Written answers

Wednesday, 8 July 2009

Department of Education and Science

Psychological Service

Photo of Noel AhernNoel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 547: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will clarify the situation regarding the assessment of children process; the way children are selected for assessment; if a teacher could submit the names of children that they are concerned about for assessment; if there is a particular assessment after fifth class; if it is correct that only two children per school per year are selected for assessment; the cost of each assessment; whether his Department, the school or the parent pays for the assessment; if any child will be assessed at a subsidised rate at the parent's expense; the steps that he will take for a child where the assessment shows same is below average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28748/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) which is administered by NEPS.

NEPS encourages a staged assessment process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention, in consultation with their assigned NEPS psychologist. Only if there is a failure to make reasonable progress in spite of the school's best efforts, will a child be referred for individual psychological assessment. This system allows the psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually.

The introduction of the General Allocation model for primary schools in 2005/06 means that children with high incidence special needs no longer have to wait for an individual assessment before they can get access to extra support.

Children who manifest very special or urgent needs in school and who have not been previously assessed by a psychologist and are brought to the attention of a NEPS psychologist by the Principal teacher will usually be assessed by the psychologist within that school term. Normally, principals of schools prioritise those children in need of psychologist assessment in consultation with the assigned psychologist.

In the case of schools that do not currently have dedicated NEPS psychologists assigned to them, as I already mentioned, such schools have access to psychological assessments through the SCPA. Under this Scheme, schools can commission assessments from a member of the panel of private practitioners approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the fees directly to the psychologist concerned.

Should school authorities have specific difficulties with regard any of the foregoing I would suggest that they should contact the relevant local NEPS Regional Director, for whom contact details are available on my Department's website.

All primary schools are allocated additional teaching resources under the General Allocation Model to enable them support pupils with educational needs. Schools can decide how best to use this allocation based on the needs of the pupils.

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