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

The training of teachers is very important, particularly when we are talking about special education and before the opening of a special class. The initial teacher training includes modules on special education, which means qualified teachers are already able to support children with special education needs who are in a special class setting. Recognising that teachers in these classes may also wish to access additional training and supports, a range of departmental continuing professional development, CPD, and National Council for Special Education, NCSE, supports are also made available to those who wish to avail of them.

Prior to the opening of a class there is a programme of professional support for schools with newly established special classes, and that is being developed by the NCSE. That programme will be available to schools as soon as practicable upon the completion of the recruitment process. Some of the supports available include a seminar for principals, a four-day intensive training course for teachers, a two-day training course for new teachers, whole-staff CPD, and a school being linked with an NCSE adviser, which is critical for having a two-way communication channel. There are also further modules available.

After opening the special class, the NCSE provides a comprehensive programme of teacher professional learning seminars each school year, which cover a variety of special education needs topics. In-school support forms part of a suite of teacher professional learning provided by the NCSE in addition to a programme of seminars and online resources for teachers. Schools may apply directly to the NCSE for in-school support for the whole staff group and for individual teachers, and that support is tailored to the specific teacher professional learning needs within a school. I will come back to some of the resources that are available to teachers on topics in a minute.

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