Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2016

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied) which wishes to open a preschool specifically for children with autism spectrum disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18420/16]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) support to mainstream Primary, Post Primary and Special Schools, to assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. The NCSE makes such allocations in accordance with my Departments criteria for the scheme.

I am advised that the school to which the Deputy refers includes a Special Class for children with Autism which is staffed by 1 teacher and 2 Special Needs Assistants. I am also advised that the school has applied to the NCSE for the establishment of an Early Intervention Unit. The NCSE are currently considering this request and are assessing the need for such a unit in this school. A reply will issue to the school in due course.

In addition I am also advised that a pre-school is located on the campus of this school. This pre-school is operated separately to the school and is primarily funded under the ECCE scheme operated by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. This scheme is the principal vehicle for the delivery of pre-school education. I understand that the staffing of this pre-school is the focus of the Deputy's question.

Children with disabilities will now have better access to pre-school services under a new Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) programme of supports, which was recently announced, on 15th June 2016, by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, depending on the needs of the child and the pre-school.

The supports include:

A new Inclusion Charter for the Early Years sector, alongside updated and strengthened Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Guidelines for Early Childhood Care and Education.

A new higher education programme for early years practitioners (LINC) which will commence from September 2016.

A new national specialist service which is based in the Better Start National Early Years Quality Development Service will provide expert advice, mentoring and support to pre-school providers from a team of 50 specialists in early years care and education for children with disabilities.

A new national scheme will provide specialised equipment, appliances and minor alterations which are necessary to support a child's participation in the ECCE programme.

A new national scheme will also provide additional capitation to pre-school providers where this is critical to fund extra support in the classroom and enable a child's participation in pre-school.

It is estimated that only 1% to 1.5% of children in pre-school will require, and therefore be eligible for, this scheme of additional capitation.

Details of the supports which will be available under AIM can be found at www.preschoolaccess.iewhich contains comprehensive information on the access and inclusion model and on how to apply for the new schemes and supports.

Questions relating to provision of such services in pre school settings should be addressed my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

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