Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

479. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details on the design of the in-school therapies being rolled out in special schools in 2025, especially in relation to the staffing arrangements for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55216/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Education Plan 2025 confirms government commitment to and approval of the establishment of the Education Therapy Service (ETS).

As indicated previously, it is anticipated that the ETS will commence in 45 special schools at a later stage in the 2025/26 school year and will be supported by a panel of 90 therapists comprising of senior and staff grade. Further roll out of the service will occur on a phased basis with a wider roll-out to further special schools commencing in the 2026/27 school year. In time, it is intended that this service will be available to schools with special classes and mainstream schools. This is not to replace HSE services but rather to compliment existing supports recognising that special schools support children with complex needs.

It is anticipated that school selection for the initial phase will be complete early in the 2025/2026 school year to ensure that selected schools have the opportunity to engage with the ETS prior to therapist assignment.

The development and delivery of this service will be informed by detailed engagement, which is on-going, with our colleagues in the HSE and stakeholders and will build on the National Council for Special Educations’ (NCSE) work previously completed through the Educational Therapy Support Service (ETSS) and the School Inclusion Model.

In addition to the ETS, the NCSE have been developing an education -based therapy support service known as the ETSS. This service currently provides two strands of support to schools, Regional Therapy and Sustained In-School Therapy to both mainstream and special schools.

Sustained in-school support (SIT) is provided to schools for a defined period of 18-24 months in line with the School Inclusion Model. 22 schools in the Eastern region are currently availing of this service and 28 schools in the Western region will receive support under SIT from September 25.

Regional therapy support provides Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) with follow on/implementation support by NCSE therapists. The focus of this support is to build the capacity of schools and to embed the learning from TPL into their teaching practice, through In-school coaching and co-facilitation of interventions, strategies and resources, with a focus on whole school (Tier 1) and targeted/school support levels (Tier 2) of a multitiered system of support. Regional Therapy seminars will be available nationally for the 2025/2026 school year.

My Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.