Written answers

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Department of Education and Skills

Teacher Training

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether short courses in a specialised discipline such as behaviour analysis, that are provided for continuous professional development for teachers does not equate to an approved qualification in that specialised discipline, especially when international standards of training exist for that specialised discipline for example the Behaviour Analysis Certification Board: www.bacb.com. [46107/12]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department provides for a comprehensive system of continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers in the area of special educational needs including teachers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Central to this is the Special Education Support Service (SESS) which was established in September 2003. The brief of the SESS is to enhance the quality of learning and teaching of students with special educational needs through the provision of CPD and support for teachers in mainstream schools, primary and post-primary special schools, and special classes.

Reflective of the important role of CPD, my Department, through SESS, has put in place a training programme for teachers in autism-specific interventions including Treatment and Education of Autistic Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) and Picture Exchange Communications System (PECS). Provision for CPD in relation to Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), within the learning and teaching context has been provided by SESS as follows:

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