Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. Some programmes are being run again this year, including numeracy and literacy camps in DEIS primary schools, a school-based summer programme in primary special classes and special schools. There will be home-based provision for students with complex needs where no school-based programme is available. New programmes are also being provided this year. All primary schools will have the opportunity to provide a two-week summer programme for mainstream pupils with complex needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage. All post-primary schools have the opportunity to provide a two-week summer programme for students with complex needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage.

Similar to last year, children with complex needs who had been attending pre-schools this year, but who are entering primary school this September, are also eligible to participate in summer programmes. This range of programmes on offer builds on the success of the expanded programmes that ran last year and incorporates feedback from education stakeholders about how to better support the programme for all involved in summer 2021. A home-based summer programme will be available for students with complex special educational needs where schools are not providing a school-based programme. Application forms are available from schools.

The summer programme is intended to help as many students as possible with additional needs to benefit from in-person education over the summer to prevent regression, build key skills and confidence, and make up for the time missed earlier in the year.

We are also working with school bodies and staff representatives so that uptake of this year’s summer programme is as large as possible for the benefit of all. The closing date for receipt of expressions of interest from primary and post-primary schools is 25 June.

I have outlined the significant efforts made to ensure that pupils with special educational needs could return to in-person learning as soon as possible. Additional supports have also been provided to mitigate the loss of learning time experienced by pupils.

As the educational environment returns to normality, there will be opportunities to fully reflect on the impact of school closures on these children. Irish and international research on the impact of the period of school closures on students has been carried out. Understandably, much of this research, focuses on the impact on students with special educational needs and those most at risk of educational disadvantage. My Department's inspectorate, for example, has gathered the views of parents of primary and post-primary students and students in special schools on their children’s experiences of remote learning in 2021. While parents of children attending primary and post-primary schools largely report positively on remote learning, some parents of children attending special schools reported negatively on those experiences.

Recent research published in the UK found substantial learning loss for students at key stage 2 in reading and mathematics, along with projections that the previously existing attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged learners is likely to widen significantly without the provision of compensatory measures for those most at risk of educational disadvantage. Acknowledging that this is also likely to be the case in this country, my officials are working on how best to support schools and students as they return to school in September for the coming school year. Further information on this will be outlined in the coming weeks.

Further research will be also be required in Ireland to measure the full extent of the impact that educational disruption has had on children. It will also need to consider which pupils have been most affected, whether the effects are temporary or long term and what measures might best alleviate or address this impact.

In the coming school year, more than 13,600 special education teachers will be allocated to mainstream schools. They will support class teachers to address the special educational needs and learning needs of pupils who attend mainstream schools. This year, we are also providing for two new special schools and 269 new special classes.

For the 2021-22 school year, we will have 2,118 special classes, which is the largest number of special classes we have ever had and compares with 548 classes available in 2011. Some 18,000 special needs assistants will be available to support the care needs of pupils with special educational needs in our schools.

My Department will continue to prioritise investment in special education, with over €2 billion due to be spent on special education this year. The Government’s commitment to special education is clear from the resources being allocated and the progress being made. As ever, our focus is and must always be the young people themselves. Over recent months, we have heard these young people and their families speak about their experiences. We must now ensure that as we, hopefully, emerge from a time of extensive Covid-19 restrictions, the educational needs of these pupils continue to be provided for.

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