Written answers

Thursday, 1 December 2016

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

159. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a statutory basis for the provision of special ASD classes in primary and secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38177/16]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to advise the Deputy that, Section 2 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004, commenced in 2005, provides for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs in an inclusive environment with children who do not have such needs unless the nature or degree of those needs of the child is such that to do so would be inconsistent with— (a) the best interests of the child as determined in accordance with any assessment carried out under this Act, or (b) the effective provision of education for children with whom the child is to be educated.

Where a child has been assessed as requiring specialist educational provision, in circumstances where the extent of their special educational needs means that education in an inclusive mainstream school placement would be inconsistent with their best interests, or the effective provision of education for other children, my Department makes provision for special class or special school placements.

Special classes are part of a continuum of educational provision that enables students with more complex special educational needs to be educated, in smaller class groups, within their local mainstream schools.

Special classes offer a supportive learning environment to students with ASD who are unable to access the curriculum in a mainstream class, even with support, for most or all of their school day. Special classes for students with ASD are staffed with a lower pupil–teacher ratio of 6:1 at primary level and 6:1.5 at post primary level, and also have Special Needs Assistant support normally amounting to 2 SNAs for a class of 6 children.

The sections of the EPSEN Act 2004 which placed the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) on a statutory footing, were also commenced in 2005. The NCSE through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), in consultation with the relevant education partners, is responsible for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required.

Progress in developing this network has been significant and in addition to the special school placements there are 1,153 special classes available, which is an increase of over 100% in the number of special classes which were available in 2011, which was 548.

Currently there are 127 ASD early intervention classes, 525 primary ASD classes and 237 post-primary ASD classes, which represents an increase of approximately 16% on the previous school years provision of ASD special classes.

The NCSE continues to engage with schools in opening special classes where there is an identified need for special class provision.

The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill was published on 6th July 2016. The Bill contains a provision which will empower the NCSE to designate a school for a child who has no school place for reasons related to the child’s special educational needs and for the Child and Family Agency to designate a school for a child who has no school place (other than a child with special educational needs).

In line with recommendations from the NCSE in policy advices provided in 2011, it is the policy of the Department to include a Special Needs Unit in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. In addition, the Department may also provide capital funding to schools to establish special needs provision e.g. reconfigure existing accommodation to provide a special class where this has been approved or recommended by the NCSE. 

The NCSE recently launched guidelines for Boards of Management and Principals of Primary and Post Primary schools which provide information on setting up and organising special classes. These guidelines are available to download from www.ncse.ie.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.