Greenwood House Assessment Centre

Greenwood House Assessment Centre is a controlled special school, for children aged between three and six years.  It has an enrolment of 71 pupils from within the Belfast area, and from across the entire Belfast community.  This includes specialist nursery provision for sixteen children delivered through a dual day model.  Pupils’ needs include speech and language disorder or delay, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, emotional and behavioural problems, moderate or severe learning difficulties, and medical conditions. 

Pupils are admitted to Greenwood House following referral from the Education Authority Belfast Region's Educational Psychology Service and Special Education Section.  A pupil may attend the school for one year, and dependent on recommendation and outcome of annual review, this may be extended to two or three years.  After this time, pupils transfer either to mainstream schools, speech and language units or to other schools in the special sector.

At Greenwood House, we provide a caring and safe environment in which children are enabled to access the NI Curriculum at a level appropriate to their ability.  Each child follows an Individual Education Plan, and development of independence, self-confidence and self-help skills are an integral part of learning and teaching.     

Collaborative practice between class-based staff, speech and language therapists and the occupational therapist is a significant feature of the school.  This ensures that each child's individual needs are met through an integrated program, which includes joint goal setting and modifying aspects of the environment to maximize learning and inclusion.

Parents are encouraged to be as fully involved as possible in their child’s learning and therapy.  Strong home/school partnerships are established and developed.

At Greenwood House a clear focus is placed on the well-being of everyone in our school community.  We encourage respect for others and actively promote positive behaviour.  We aim to make all members of our community feel secure and valued through the promotion of diversity, inclusion and equality for all.

Mrs Thompson

Principal