Written answers

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Department of Defence

Special Educational Needs

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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498. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an issue (details supplied) regarding classes for children with special needs will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1366/21]

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department is conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with special educational needs can be even greater. 

Because of this, my Department sought to prioritise in-person teaching and learning for pupils/ students attending special schools and special classes and to allow these facilities to reopen from Monday 11th January.

Unfortunately, following a number of meetings with education partners, including trade unions and school management bodies, and despite the confirmation by Public Health that schools remain safe, it has not proved possible to get agreement on the provision of in-person teaching and learning for children in special schools and special classes at this time.

My Department is continuing to engage with education partners in relation to this matter. 

My Department is also engaging with disability representative bodies and parental representative bodies in relation to how children with special educational needs can best be supported during the current school closure period.

Furthermore, updated Guidance on Continuity of Schooling: Supporting Pupils with Special Educational Needs (for mainstream primary and special schools and for post-primary schools) is also being made available by my Department.

This revised guidance advises on how schools and teachers can support continuity in the learning of pupils with special educational needs during the school closures associated with COVID-19. The guidance builds on the key messages in a range of guidance materials which were issued to schools and centres for education as they were published. Specific guidance has been published by the Department to support schools in the context of remote teaching and learning in a Covid-19 context:

Guidance on Remote Learning in a COVID-19 Context: September – December 2020; www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0bff-reopening-our-primary-and-special-schools/#additional-guidelines-and-procedures(Department of Education, October 2020)

This has been complemented by the Department of Education Circular Letter 0074/2020 in relation to the establishment of Digital Communication, Teaching and Learning Platforms: www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0074_2020.pdf

This guidance is intended to assist mainstream and special primary schools as they endeavour to support teaching and learning for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) through remote teaching approaches. Key themes of the guidance include:

- The role of schools and teachers in engaging with pupils with SEN

- Teachers and school leaders working to support pupils with SEN

- Keeping in touch with parents and guardians

- Keeping pupils with SEN safe in the distance learning environment

- Resources for teachers

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) will also communicate directly with schools on the range of supports available to special schools and schools with special classes. The following sets out some of the supports available:

NCSE has created a dedicated phone line for parents to get advice and support from SENOs. The SENO will provide support and advice to parents and where relevant provide specific resources e.g. behaviour strategies, NEPS well-being resources. If necessary parents can book a subsequent appointment with the SENO assigned to their child’s school.  This new phone number is 01 603 3456 (from Monday 11 January).

For students who might be moving between schools in September 2021, SENOs will undertake structured engagement with relevant students and their families. This engagement will involve advice and support on transition strategies appropriate to the student, along with support in securing a school placement where required.

SENOs will continue to provide a series of webinars for parents of students with special education needs starting primary school in September 2021.

The NCSE has a Visiting Teacher service which provides direct support to children who are blind/visually impaired and deaf/hard of hearing and their teachers. Visiting Teachers continue to be available to provide advice and support to parents, students and teachers during this period of remote teaching and learning. Visiting Teachers will undertake structured engagement with the families of students to whom they currently provide support to. This engagement will involve an initial check in with advice on available supports and resources. In particular, the Visiting Teacher will provide support on the use of assistive technology in the home. The Visiting Teacher will agree a programme of regular engagement with the student and family as required and will remain available to respond to emerging queries over the course of remote teaching and learning. Contact details for visiting teachers are available at . If parents experience difficulties contacting their Visiting Teacher they should call 01 603 3200.

NCSE will also be releasing a brand new suite of short videos for parents.  Topics will include managing behaviour; establishing positive routines; building in movement breaks etc.

NCSE will also be updating and enhancing its range of resources for parents available at many of which were created with specific reference to remote teaching and learning.

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