Education Committee launch report on the role of the Special Needs Assistant

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection today published its ‘Report on the role of the Special Needs Assistant’. Through widespread stakeholder engagement this report examines the policy governing the role of the Special Needs Assistant and the experience of those on the ground.

21st January 2016

Some of the report’s findings and recommendations include:

•    The duties and functions of the SNA need to be effectively, directly and regularly communicated to parents, teachers, principals and school staff.  The role is subject to misinterpretation and as a result has expanded to include responsibilities which do not follow the Department of Education and Skills Circular
•    The Department of Education and Skills should require SNAs to participate in the Individualised Education Plan of the student/students who they provide support to as it relates to ‘care needs’. SNA’s have an important role to play in providing information for the care plan of the student/students.
•    A mandatory, standardised training and course structure needs to be developed and implemented.  A clear and defined structure would achieve further professionalisation of the role, set a minimum standard of qualification for all SNAs and would provide the necessary skills needed at primary and post-primary to fulfil their roles most effectively.
•    A Continuous Professional Development programme which provides equal regional access needs to be introduced for SNAs as soon as practicable.
•    The Department of Education and Skills need to ensure that SNA posts are not made available through Jobbridge.

Committee Chair, Joanna Tuffy T.D., said: “The important role of the Special Needs Assistant is one which the Committee have examined closely over the course of our most recent work programme and indeed the lifetime of this Committee. This report now puts forward 13 detailed recommendations that we hope can be used to bridge the gap between what the policy calls for and the experience of the SNA on the ground.”

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Senator Mary Moran, rapporteur of this report, who engaged fully in a broad programme of research in producing this excellent report. I hope it can form the basis for reform that supports and enhances the work of the SNA in the future.”

Report Rapporteur, Senator Mary Moran said “During the course of my work I communicated with a broad section of stakeholders involved in the SNA Scheme.  I hope that this report not only highlights the excellent work of SNAs but also the need for a refinement and clarification of the policy surrounding the role. It is imperative that we bridge the gap between the policy set out and the reality of how the Scheme operates on the ground.  I would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the report and specifically thank SNAs for their overwhelming response which greatly enhanced the report.”

The report can be accessed here.

ENDS

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Committee Membership:

Chair: Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

Deputies:   

James Bannon (Fine Gael); Ray Butler (Fine Gael); Catherine Byrne (Fine Gael); Ciaran Cannon (Fine Gael); Joan Collins (Independent); Michael Conaghan (Labour); Clare Daly (Independent); Jim Daly (Fine Gael); Noel Harrington (Fine Gael); Charlie McConalogue (Fianna Fáil); Jonathan O Brien (Sinn Fein); Willie O'Dea (Fianna Fáil); Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin); Brendan Ryan (Labour)

Senators:   

Jim D’Arcy (Fine Gael); Gerard P Craughwell (Independent); Marie Moloney (Labour); Mary Moran (Labour); Averil Power (Fianna Fáil); Mary-Louise O'Donnell (Independent)