Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on what is a reasonable timeframe for a response from the NCSE when violent behaviour is reported and staff continue to deal with said violent behaviour in the interim, taking into account the professional judgment of the principal, as they deal with the issues raised on a daily basis. [52765/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all pupils and employees in their school. In this regard, schools are required to have a range of policies and procedures in place which are conducive to the provision of high quality teaching, learning and student engagement.

Students who have a challenging behavioural needs should, in the first instance, be supported by teachers, other staff members and by whole school polices on the management of behaviour in schools. The emphasis in the school situation should be on the development of well co-ordinated interventions in response to the student's identified needs.

Tusla's Educational Welfare Service, under the aegis of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has published guidelines for schools on Codes of Behaviour which all schools are required by law to have in place.

Schools may seek advice from their local National Educational Psychological Services psychologist, from the NCSE’s Support Service which includes Special Educational Needs Organisers, the National Behavioural Support Service and the Special Education Support Service, as to how children with behavioural needs can best be supported in school.

A range of guidance is available for schools in relation to the management of student behaviour. The Department published Guidelines for Supporting Pupils with Behavioural, Emotional, and Social Difficulties, which is available on the Department’s website, www.education.ie. The National Educational Psychological Services document Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties – A Continuum of Support also provides advice for teachers.

Training is available for schools in relation to the provision of support for children with special educational needs from the NCSE’s Regional Service. The Special Education Support Service can, as part of their designated training modules, provide guidance for schools in relation to the management of difficult behaviour.

The NCSE have advised that applications for additional resources are made by schools to their designated NCSE SENO and the NCSE aim to make decisions/recommendations on complete applications and reply to schools within 6 to 8 weeks.

In addition, work is ongoing in my Department in relation to the development of guidelines for crisis situations. Following a request by my Department for policy advice from the NCSE, which provided recommendations in relation to crisis situations and complex behavioural needs, work on developing guidelines for schools is underway. My Department will engage with education partners on these in the coming months. The guidelines will assist schools in responding in circumstances where students pose an immediate threat of harm to themselves or others.