Universal Design for Learning

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) launched an innovative new pilot project with 45 schools, both primary and second levels, from across the country to introduce or build on existing good practice in the area of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This pilot was launched in May 2024 and Scoil Mhuire is one of the 45 schools chosen to take part. Mrs O’Malley & Ms Leahy are leading our school’s participation in the UDL program and we are working on a whole school level this year to embed the values of UDL in our day to day practices.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimise teaching and learning for all students by offering choice and flexibility. The UDL framework supports teachers to plan for learner variability, reduce barriers and support resourceful, purposeful and goal orientated students.

Throughout our school we use visuals that are consistent in every room. This helps all learners anticipate their daily schedules & means that regardless of the class a child is in, they understand the timetable of each room. This can be a great relief for many children and also benefits everybody as they can anticipate and prepare for each lesson more efficiently.

If a child is dysregulated, they are not in a position to learn or interact. In each room, we have a Regulation Station; a box full of regulation tools and sensory items that can ease a child back to a state of readiness to participate effectively in their class.
The contents of these boxes are available for all pupils should they need it.

We are also endeavouring to learn and use some essential Lámh signs throughout our school to afford every pupil in our school the opportunity to be included in conversations with their peers.

These are only a sample of the wide variety of practices in our school that are built around the values of Universal Design for Learning.