The Student Support Team (SST) is part of the student support system in a school. That system encompasses a range of supports that cater for the learning, social, emotional and behavioural needs of students.
Essentially, the Student Support Team is a student-focused mechanism put in place by a school in order to:
- co-ordinate the support available for students in the school
- facilitate links to the community and other non-school support services
- enable students with support needs to continue to access a full education
- assist staff to manage those students effectively
- ensure new staff members are briefed about policies and procedures relating to student wellbeing and support
- advise on the development and review of effective student support policies and structures.
In St. Wolstan’s Community School the support team meets weekly and is made up of the following personnel:
- Principal
- Deputy Principals
- Guidance Counsellors
- Chaplain
- Special Educational Needs Coordinators
- Year Heads (attend meetings as needed)
At these meetings the Student Support Team (SST) discuss the needs of students and look at ways to address those needs. The SST coordinates the supports available for students within the school. The SST also works with a number of external agencies to support students and their families including CAMHS, TUSLA and Pieta House.