Mr. John Scanlon:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak. We are here to speak about the integrated care and education model in St. Ultan's. The care and education model is a response to the needs of the children of Cherry Orchard. St. Ultan's is a campus for Cherry Orchard, not just in Cherry Orchard. We cater primarily for the populations of the electoral areas A and C.

Cherry Orchard is a very disadvantaged community. Some 80% of the children who attend St. Ultan's live in the lowest quartile of disadvantage. Children grow up in a community that suffers from addiction, trauma, unemployment, high anti-social behaviour, and poor and unco-ordinated planning that still exists today.

This trauma plays out in the lives of children and presents as behaviour issues and self-esteem issues and they grow up with little hope. This trauma plays out for the community in addiction, unemployment, anti-social behaviour and fear and mistrust of authority.

The founders of St. Ultan’s, who were community-based, recognised that a different approach was required to tackle the needs of Cherry Orchard. In looking for a solution, no precedent in Ireland could be found. International models of best practice were harnessed. Education was recognised as the key to breaking disadvantage, but the social problems that existed were a major factor that took away from the drive to be educated. From there came the model of a care and education approach to meeting the needs of children and breaking the cycle of disadvantage. A formal Government decision in 2007 was instrumental in the set-up of the campus.

Over the past 16 years, a multidisciplinary team of teachers, special needs assistants, care and early year practitioners, therapists and community service staff have developed a model of working closely with each other and with other health and social care professionals and service providers with the objective of providing a combined and consistent education, care and support model for all children and families of this area.

Early intervention is the most cost-effective way to help break the cycle of disadvantage, to help each child fulfil his or her potential, and to reduce the long-term cost of social problems such as unemployment, social housing, addiction, anti-social behaviour and juvenile and adult crime. St. Ultan's Primary School is the only school in Cherry Orchard. It is a DEIS band 1 school catering for 370 children and has an autism unit with three mainstream school classes.

The St. Ultan's model is an integrated, holistic and wraparound service for the child, who is at the centre of everything we do. We meet the holistic needs of children and young people through our unique integrated approach of education and care that includes an early education centre on campus, with strong co-operation between early education practitioners and primary school teachers creating a smoother and more school-ready transfer of children to primary school. It currently caters for 92 children and the number is planned to increase to 130 next year. The model includes a care service offering social care support across campus during the school day and an after-school service for those identified as most at risk and allowing for programmes to be put in place for children with high needs. There are 52 complex children in receipt of care service each year with a further 40 requiring play therapy. There is interagency networking both within St. Ultan’s and with external agencies. There is continuous learning catering for children from as young as three months to 18 years and, in addition, with parents and families. We have a culture and arts programme. Since 2011, we have provided a nutritious hot meal for every child in the school as hunger has been a significant issue. There is a policy of local employment where over 20% of the staff of St. Ultan's are from the local community services team. We also provide parental support programmes.

We have been acknowledged by the Department and philanthropic donors, which has allowed us to run the programmes we run. We have a flat campus management structure that includes the principal, the care service manager and finance and services manager.

St Ultan’s meets the aims of the programme for Government by prioritising early years. We work with and support young people educationally and socially to give them the best chance in life to break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage. We promote excellence and innovation in school by use of progressive and innovative approaches in implementing the primary curriculum and evidence-based programmes. We aim to tackle disadvantage in everything we do and to empower children and parents so that they can create a better future for themselves. We already make extended use of our building at evenings and weekends.

Breaking the cycle of disadvantage, in particular intergenerational disadvantage, requires an integrated approach. Working through the education system on its own is not enough. A child cannot learn if he or she is hungry, scared or tired. The needs of children and young people can only be met through a multi-agency and interagency approach. St. Ultan’s campus provides that holistic approach to meeting the needs of children. We can break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage if we are resourced to do so.

St. Ultan’s needs resources to consolidate an integrated care and education approach. Demand for care services exceeds the allowed quota. Managers and staff work to an integration agenda in addition to their other duties. The campus has two boards simply because it is restricted by the Education Act. We would therefore ask the committee to consider the following. I extend an invitation to the committee to visit St. Ultan's as it is best experienced in person. We need to be properly resourced to support the children of Cherry Orchard, including access to a multidisciplinary team on site in St. Ultan's. We need support to work with parents and families to enhance the work we do with the children. The model of integrated care and education needs to be formally recognised by Government. The Government needs to provide a targeted, holistic and co-ordinated approach to the area of Cherry Orchard rather than the individual unco-ordinated responses that exist at present. We need political support and action to renew our mission in the challenging times ahead.