21/03/2022
๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐บ, โ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎโ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ
Clonaslee College is a school set in the scenic foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in Co. Laois. The school itself was cleverly designed to create a state of serenity for the 213 students currently enrolled.
Under the patronage of Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB), Clonaslee College is co-educational and multi-denominational, committed to the ETB School Core Values of Excellence in Education, Care, Equality, Community and Respect.
As with other areas in Ireland, the tentacles of Covid reached into this small community, disrupting education and making the last two years challenging for all aspects of student and local life. Now, in a
post-pandemic environment, the school is once again back to face-to-face tuition for their students.
Recognising the negative impact of Covid-19 on students through social lockdowns and school closures, the staff of Clonaslee Community College have created a space where students can be
offered a quiet, distraction-free zone. A new sensory room, named '๐๐๐ง๐ฃ๐๐' by the students, has been developed within the school. The room contains a state-of-the-art sensory pod, a sensorial space with seating, a cave area to relax in with hexagonal tables to work at, all built within a bespoke woodland theme surrounding.
The pod provides a safe and calming environment, featuring colour changing sensory ceiling, Vibromatt vibration sensory mattress, and a multimedia system through which music and sounds can be created and programmed to meet each studentโs individual need.
The new sensory room is an inclusive room that can be utilised by all members of the student body, from those that have individual and special needs, through to students completing the state
examinations this year and require some relaxing downtime to alleviate anxiety and stress.
Minister Josepha Madigan, TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion, visited the school, met with the students and staff, and formally opened the new sensorial
room on Friday, 11th March.
The Minister also celebrated the exciting news of the recent Department of Education & Science approval for the building of two new ASD classes, an Art room and a Graphics
room for Clonaslee College.
