Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

878. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has elaborated on the strategies outlined in circular 30/2014, in particular the use of reactive strategies for junior infant and first year pupils such as applying for special needs assistant support only after all strategies employed by the school have failed the pupil instead of proactive strategies such as special needs assistant support for all special education need pupils who have previously had special needs assistant support during their first year in primary or in post-primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41420/14]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

879. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the research processes which were followed by her Department in regard to the drafting of circular 30/2014; if relevant parties-groups were involved or consulted in advance of the circular being issued; if the circular has been sufficiently circulated to relevant parties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41421/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 878 and 879 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014, which issued to schools on 10th April 2014 and is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

This Circular clarifies and restates the purpose of the SNA scheme i.e. to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs.

The Circular does not change the policy of allocating SNA support for a newly enrolling Junior Infant who has clear and obvious need for such support e.g. a child who has a significant additional care needs arising from an intellectual, sensory or physical disability.

For those children where it is not yet clear whether difficulties will manifest in a classroom environment, the Circular states that in general, it is expected that all primary school pupils having their first school experience will have been enrolled and will have commenced attending school before any application for SNA support will be made. Particularly in relation to possible anticipated behavioural difficulties, it is more appropriate to wait until the child begins school in order to see how they have been able to engage in the classroom. A range of guidelines have been provided for schools by my Department in relation to management measures for difficult behaviour.

Circular 0030/2014 is based on recommendations contained in my Departments Value for Money and Policy Review of the SNA scheme and also the National Council for Special Education Policy Advice on Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs in Schools.

Both reports concluded that the SNA scheme has been highly successful in supporting the care needs of children with special needs in schools, and with assisting to facilitate their integration and inclusion. However, the reports also concluded that the intended purpose of the scheme was not always generally well understood by parents or schools and that the scope and purpose of the scheme should be clarified for schools.

In developing both of these policy review papers my Department and the NCSE consulted widely with education partners and stakeholders, including parents of children with special educational needs.

The Circular was developed taking into account the recommendations contained in these policy advice papers and in conjunction with the NCSE, the National Educational Psychological Services and my Department's Inspectorate division.

Following the publication of the circular, officials at my Department held a series of meetings with stakeholders, including parents of children with special needs, to discuss this Circular with them.

In order to provide further clarity in relation to the scheme, my Department asked the National Council for Special Education to prepare an Information Booklet for parents in relation to the SNA scheme and it is hoped that this document will be published shortly.