Ms Helen Walsh:

I am also from a teaching and psychology background and was also a SENO. Notwithstanding all of that, SENOs do not make or undermine recommendations. What they do is marry circulars with the recommendations that are there. Remember, eligibility is defined according to four categories within a special class or special school. These include the evidence of complex needs. Some reports do not contain that. Some reports will give the diagnosis of the student, that is fine and we take that. Sometimes the rationale as to why a child needs a specialist placement under EPSEN is not there either. SENOs are not taking recommendations and saying a child does not need a place. They are analysing the evidence that should be categorical within a report, aligning it with circulars and then making the case.

We have 120 excellent SENOs. They receive ongoing induction, training and work with their team managers. If there is ever the faintest hint that the evidence is not clear, they go back in and have a look. They do that within their team structure.