Mary Wallace
Question:381 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the division of support teaching between learning support and resource at second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25369/03]
Written Answers. - Student Support Schemes.
The function of the learning support – remedial – teacher service is to address the needs of students who have identified weaknesses in the areas of literacy or numeracy. Such students would generally be those who score below the tenth percentile in standardised tests of literacy or numeracy.
The resource teacher service addresses the needs of students who have been professionally assessed as having special educational needs arising from an intellectual, sensory or physical disability. The resource teacher service can be made available to support the placement of such students in ordinary classes on an integrated basis. In some cases the level of disability involved can be such as to require placement in a dedicated special class attached to a second level school or in a special school dedicated to a particular disability group.
Decisions on the model of response adopted in individual cases are based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual student and have regard to the wishes of the student and his or her parents.