At Cara Community Special School, we are guided by the Primary School Curriculum (1999) as set out by the Department of Education. However, we adapt this curriculum carefully and creatively to suit the individual needs, strengths, and learning profiles of our students. We are also moving over to the new Primary Curriculum in line with the nation roll-out over the next number of years.

Most of our students have autism and complex needs, and many are pre-verbal or working at a pre-academic or early developmental level. Because of this, the curriculum is highly differentiated, and the learning focus is functional, holistic, and child-centred.

The Irish Primary Curriculum includes the following subject areas:

• Primary Language Curriculum (English and Irish)
• Primary Mathematics Curriculum
• Social, Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE – Geography, History, Science)
• Arts Education (Visual Arts, Music, Drama)
• Physical Education (PE)
• Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE)
• Religious or Ethical Education (Goodness Me, Goodness You)

At Cara CSS, we address these subjects through adapted learning experiences, integrated into the daily routine, and often delivered through play, sensory exploration, and real-life contexts.