Overview

This full-year plan runs from September 2025 to June 2026 for a class of 12 Year 11 students with mild learning difficulties. It focuses on developing Communication, Numeracy, and Personal Care skills through differentiated, practical, and age-appropriate activities designed specifically to align with the Irish Education (IE) Curriculum Framework, including Senior Cycle Learning Programme (SCLP) and relevant Junior Cycle learning outcomes.

Each month is themed with integrated activities and assessments that support progression in key competencies such as Literacy, Numeracy, Wellbeing, and Personal Development, using learning outcome codes (e.g., JCL1, SCLP2).

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September 2025: Getting Started - Foundations of Communication & Numeracy

Themes: Personal introductions, numbers in daily life, hygiene routines
Focus: Building communication confidence, basic numeracy understanding, personal care routines

Learning Outcomes

• Communication: SCLP1 - Express personal information using clear, age-appropriate language
• Numeracy: JCN1 - Recognise and use numbers up to 20 in practical contexts
• Personal Care: SCPP1 - Demonstrate basic personal hygiene routines independently

Activities

• Communication:
  • Icebreaker “All About Me” speaking circle (sharing name, age, favourite colour).
  • Role-play answering simple questions (Where do you live? What’s your favourite food?).
• Numeracy:
  • "Number Walk" outside: spotting and recording numbers on doors, signs, clocks.
  • Matching numerals 1-20 to sets of objects (e.g., laying out 7 pencils).
• Personal Care:
  • Step-by-step guided handwashing and teeth brushing practice.
  • Use visual social stories to reinforce personal care routines.

Suggested Assessment

• Oral presentation: Students introduce themselves, demonstrating clarity and confidence (SCLP1).
• Numeracy matching worksheet with numbers and quantities (JCN1).
• Checklist observation on independence with hygiene tasks (SCPP1).

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October 2025: Living Skills - Communication in Community & Counting Money

Themes: Asking for help, shopping basics, understanding coins and notes
Focus: Functional communication skills for community interaction, recognising money

Learning Outcomes

• Communication: JCL2 - Use simple questions and commands in everyday situations
• Numeracy: SCLN2 - Identify and count Irish coins and small euro notes
• Personal Care: SCPP2 - Prepare simple snacks hygienically and safely

Activities

• Communication:
  • Practise “Asking for help” scenarios with role-plays (e.g., asking shop assistant for price).
• Numeracy:
  • Handling real or play money; sorting coins and notes by value.
  • Simple shopping lists activities: “How much does this cost?” and tallying totals.
• Personal Care:
  • Guided sandwich preparation following hygiene rules.
  • Discuss the importance of cleanliness when handling food.

Suggested Assessment

• Completed role-play with peer feedback for communication fluency (JCL2).
• Money sorting and calculation worksheet (SCLN2).
• Teacher checklist of safe and hygienic snack preparation (SCPP2).

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November 2025: Time and Scheduling - Managing Daily Routines

Themes: Using time vocabulary, scheduling activities, maintaining personal hygiene daily
Focus: Recognising clocks and time, sequencing routines

Learning Outcomes

• Communication: SCLP3 - Understand and use time-related vocabulary (morning, afternoon, evening)
• Numeracy: JCN3 - Read time to the hour on analogue and digital clocks
• Personal Care: SCPP3 - Follow step-by-step personal care routine independently

Activities

• Communication:
  • Group discussions about daily schedule using visual timetable (e.g., “At 8 o’clock, I…”)
• Numeracy:
  • Interactive clock building with moveable hands; setting times on classroom analog clocks.
  • Matching digital clocks to analogue time.
• Personal Care:
  • Practice morning and bedtime routines using prompts and checklist pads.
  • Peer discussion: Why routines help our wellbeing.

Suggested Assessment

• Oral responses to “What do you do at 7 o’clock?” questions (SCLP3).
• Clock reading assessment - setting and telling time on analogue and digital clocks (JCN3).
• Observed completion of personal routine self-care checklist (SCPP3).

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December 2025: Expressing Needs and Preferences

Themes: Sharing opinions, making choices, continuing personal care during holidays
Focus: Using descriptive language, numerical estimation of quantities

Learning Outcomes

• Communication: JCL4 - Use descriptive words to express preferences and feelings
• Numeracy: SCLN4 - Estimate and measure quantities (e.g., how much liquid in cup)
• Personal Care: SCPP4 - Plan simple daily self-care activities independently during holiday period

Activities

• Communication:
  • “My Favourite Things” poster creation using sentences describing likes and dislikes.
• Numeracy:
  • Practise measuring liquids (pouring cups for drinks), estimating amounts.
  • Use measuring cups to follow simple drink or recipe instructions.
• Personal Care:
  • Holiday self-care planner creation with pictorial prompts for daily tasks.
  • Discuss managing routines during break times.

Suggested Assessment

• Preference-sharing presentation using descriptive phrases (JCL4).
• Practical measuring task rated for accuracy (SCLN4).
• Holiday planner reviewed and explained by student (SCPP4).

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January 2026: Healthy Choices - Communication for Wellbeing

Themes: Talking about health, food choices, personal hygiene
Focus: Using vocabulary around health and hygiene

Learning Outcomes

• Communication: SCLP5 - Understand and communicate needs about health and wellbeing
• Numeracy: JCN5 - Interpret simple graphs/charts relating to health topics (e.g., daily water intake)
• Personal Care: SCPP5 - Apply personal care strategies after physical activity

Activities

• Communication:
  • Group discussions on “Healthy foods I like” and describing symptoms or feelings.
• Numeracy:
  • Reading simple bar charts on water intake and fruit servings.
  • Create a class tally chart of favourite healthy snacks.
• Personal Care:
  • Practical lesson on washing hands after exercise and changing clothes as needed.
  • Create visual checklist for post-activity care.

Suggested Assessment

• Role-play describing feeling “tired,” “thirsty,” etc., and asking for help (SCLP5).
• Chart interpretation quiz and creation task (JCN5).
• Observation of personal care routine following physical education (SCPP5).

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February 2026: Money Skills - Managing Allowance and Budgeting

Themes: Understanding budgets, basic addition/subtraction for money
Focus: Handling money in real-life contexts, personal finance basics

Learning Outcomes

• Communication: JCL6 - Use vocabulary of money and finance in practical contexts
• Numeracy: SCLN6 - Add and subtract money amounts up to €20 accurately
• Personal Care: SCPP6 - Plan personal purchases and maintain money safety

Activities

• Communication:
  • Class conversation on savings: “What would you buy with €10?”
• Numeracy:
  • Budgeting worksheet: Students allocate €20 for different items (food, transport).
  • Real money count-back exercises.
• Personal Care:
  • Discuss safe keeping of money and avoiding loss/theft.
  • Role-play paying for an item and receiving change.

Suggested Assessment

• Oral quiz on money vocabulary and concepts (JCL6).
• Written budgeting worksheet marked for accuracy (SCLN6).
• Peer-assessed payment and change-giving role plays (SCPP6).

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March 2026: Using Technology for Communication and Numeracy

Themes: Basic ICT skills, digital communication, using apps for numeracy
Focus: Enhancing communication and numeracy via technology

Learning Outcomes

• Communication: SCLP7 - Use basic digital tools (email, messaging) to communicate clearly
• Numeracy: JCN7 - Use numeracy apps/software to practise number skills
• Personal Care: SCPP7 - Apply online safety and personal information sharing rules

Activities

• Communication:
  • Compose and send simple emails or messages with teacher support.
• Numeracy:
  • Interactive numeracy games focused on addition and money concepts on tablet devices.
• Personal Care:
  • Group discussion on protecting personal data online.
  • Create “Internet Safety” poster.

Suggested Assessment

• Digital communication task completion (sending message) (SCLP7).
• Screenshot or teacher log of app progress in numeracy activities (JCN7).
• Review of online safety poster and student explanation (SCPP7).

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April 2026: Expressing Emotions and Self-Advocacy

Themes: Identifying feelings, asking for support, personal boundaries
Focus: Developing confidence in personal expression and wellbeing

Learning Outcomes

• Communication: JCL8 - Use language to express emotions and needs clearly
• Numeracy: JCN8 - Use simple problem-solving strategies in everyday contexts
• Personal Care: SCPP8 - Recognise when and how to seek help for personal care or health issues

Activities

• Communication:
  • “Feelings Wheel” activity to label and discuss a range of emotions.
  • Role-play asking for help or expressing discomfort.
• Numeracy:
  • Everyday problem-solving scenarios (e.g., counting change needed when short).
• Personal Care:
  • Identify trusted adults for help; create a visual “Help Chart.”
  • Practise phone calls (real or simulated) to ask for assistance.

Suggested Assessment

• Communication role-play and vocabulary checklist (JCL8).
• Problem-solving activity sheets scored for reasoning (JCN8).
• Student verbal or pictorial explanation of help-seeking process (SCPP8).

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May 2026: Planning for Independence and Transition

Themes: Preparing for adult life skills, community access, future planning
Focus: Personal goal setting, budgeting, personal care for independence

Learning Outcomes

• Communication: SCLP9 - Plan and communicate personal goals for independence
• Numeracy: SCLN9 - Use money management skills in planning future needs
• Personal Care: SCPP9 - Demonstrate independence in personal care tasks and community activities

Activities

• Communication:
  • Create “My Independence Plan” booklet with goals and methods to communicate them.
• Numeracy:
  • Project budgeting for a day out: transport, food, entrance fees.
• Personal Care:
  • Practice packing a personal care bag for a community visit.
  • Discuss community safety and personal responsibility.

Suggested Assessment

• Presentation of “My Independence Plan” to class or teacher (SCLP9).
• Budget plan worksheet assessed for accuracy and feasibility (SCLN9).
• Real or simulated community access trip observed and reviewed (SCPP9).

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June 2026: Celebrating Progress and Reflecting

Themes: Review of learning, celebrating achievements, preparing for next steps
Focus: Reflective communication, applied numeracy, maintaining personal care

Learning Outcomes

• Communication: JCL10 - Share learning reflections and future aspirations verbally and/or in writing
• Numeracy: JCN10 - Apply numeracy skills in a real-world group project
• Personal Care: SCPP10 - Maintain personal care hygiene with minimal prompts

Activities

• Communication:
  • Group discussion and individual presentations on “What I learned this year.”
  • Creating personal achievement certificates with descriptive sentences.
• Numeracy:
  • Collaborative project: planning a class party with budget and shopping list.
• Personal Care:
  • End-of-year hygiene routine independence check with peer feedback.

Suggested Assessment

• Reflective journal or presentation scored for clarity and detail (JCL10).
• Group budgeting project assessed for real-life application (JCN10).
• Teacher observational report on personal care independence (SCPP10).

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Notes for Teachers

• Differentiate activities by providing visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic supports tailored to individual needs.
• Use assistive technology where appropriate (text-to-speech, apps, tablets).
• Maintain consistent routines and use social stories to enhance understanding of personal care concepts.
• Foster peer support and group cooperation to build social communication skills.
• Regularly engage with parents/carers on progress and strategies to reinforce learning at home.

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This plan is deliberately holistic, flexible, and practical, addressing the broad personal development needs of Year 11 students with mild learning difficulties. It fosters essential life skills through communication, numeracy, and personal care, embedding skills within real-world contexts as endorsed by the Irish Education Curriculum framework.