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Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2004

Wednesday, 27 October 2004

Questions (243, 244, 245, 246)

Billy Timmins

Question:

340 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science her policy with respect to children in primary schools whose parents express a desire that they repeat a year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26304/04]

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Written answers

My Department's policy on the retention of pupils in primary schools is set out in primary circular 32/03, which issued to all primary schools in December 2003.

The primary school curriculum is designed as an eight-year course, including a two-year infant cycle followed by six years in standards from first to sixth, with children progressing to the next grade at the end of each school year.

My Department is providing considerable support for pupils with learning difficulties in schools. Learning support teachers, resource teachers, special needs assistants and a wide range of resources under the various schemes for schools in areas designated as disadvantaged are among the forms of provision allocated to schools for these pupils. The level of provision available should enable pupils to make progress in keeping with their needs and abilities and to move consecutively through the different class levels in the school along with their peers.

Under my Department's policy, children should only be allowed to repeat a year for educational reasons and in exceptional circumstances. An additional grade level should not operate through the retention of all or a substantial number of pupils at a grade level. In such exceptional circumstances a principal teacher, following consultation with the learning support or resource teacher and class teacher and the parent or parents may conclude that a pupil would benefit educationally by repeating a grade level.

A record outlining the educational basis for the decision to retain a child should be kept for any pupil so retained. There should be a clear programme outlined for such a pupil that records precisely what new approach will be used for her or him and what its expected benefit will be. These records should be retained within the school and should be brought to the inspector's attention by the principal when she or he visits the school. No pupil should repeat a grade more than once in a primary school.

A school must not operate a middle infants class or a repeat sixth class/seventh class. In the event that a school continues the practice of enrolling pupils in a middle infant or a repeat class, my Department will discount the pupils in such classes for the purpose of determining the valid enrolment of the school. Capitation and other grants in respect of such pupils shall not be paid.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

341 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if resource hours will be sanctioned for two persons (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26329/04]

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I can confirm that my Department received applications for resource teaching support for the pupils referred to by the Deputy. The application for the first named child is being considered and a response will be conveyed to the school as soon as this process has been completed. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department sanctioned three hours' resource teaching support per week for the second named child. The school was advised of this on 26 August 2004.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

342 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which special needs teaching requirements have been met at the various post-primary schools throughout County Kildare; the schools deemed to be still in need; her plans to meet these requirements in the foreseeable future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26358/04]

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Where a pupil with special educational needs enrols in a post-primary school, it is open to the school to apply to my Department for additional teaching and/or special needs assistant support for the pupil.

My Department allocates additional teaching support and special needs assistant support to second level schools and vocational educational committees to cater for pupils with special educational needs. Each application is considered on the basis of the assessed needs of the pupils involved and the nature and level of support provided is determined on the advice of the Psychological service.

A total of 1,100 hours per week in additional teaching support and 726.93 hours per week in special needs assistant support have been allocated to post-primary schools in County Kildare for the 2004-05 school year to cater for pupils with special needs.

The level of resources allocated to individual schools by my Department is determined after detailed consideration of the schools' applications, the supporting documentation provided, including the recommendations made by the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, and having regard to the overall level of resources already available to the school to address special needs issues.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

343 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which special needs teaching requirements have been met at the various primary schools throughout County Kildare; the schools deemed to be still in need; her plans to meet these requirements in the foreseeable future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26359/04]

View answer

The specific information requested is not readily available. However, I can confirm that the following special needs provisions for County Kildare have been sanctioned by my Department to cater for the special educational needs of pupils: nine special classes for pupils with autism at a pupil-teacher ratio of 6:1; six special classes for pupils with mild general learning disabilities at a pupil-teacher ratio of 11:1; and one special class for pupils with moderate general learning disabilities at a pupil-teacher ratio of 8:1. In addition to these special classes, there are three special schools in operation in the Kildare area catering for approximately 157 pupils with special needs, with a pupil-teacher ratio ranging from 6:1 to 11:1.

My Department also provides funding for The Saplings project, a facility sanctioned on a pilot basis that uses applied behavioural analysis methodologies for children with autism. There are approximately 30 children enrolled in the facility.

My Department will continue to process applications for special educational needs based on the assessed needs of pupils in primary schools generally, including County Kildare.

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