The Deputy will be aware that my Department is proposing a new system for the allocation of resource teaching supports to pupils with special educational needs. This system will involve a general teaching allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence special educational need, i.e., those with borderline mild and mild general learning disability, specific learning disability, and those with learning support needs. An additional 350 teacher posts are being provided to facilitate the introduction of the new system.
I am conscious of difficulties that could arise in relation to this model, particularly for children in small and rural schools, if it were implemented as currently proposed. Accordingly, I am having the proposed model reviewed to ensure that it provides an automatic response for pupils with common mild learning disabilities, without the need for cumbersome individual applications, while at the same time ensuring that pupils currently in receipt of service continue to receive the level of service appropriate to their needs. The review will involve consultation with representative interests and the National Council for Special Education before it is implemented in the next school year.
I should emphasise that individual applications may continue to be made for specific resource teacher allocations in respect of pupils with lower-incidence special educational needs.
This pupil's special educational needs appear to be within the high incidence category. Therefore, it would be expected that these needs can be met from within the current resource and learning support teaching allocation available to the school. The school currently has the services of one learning support post, and 12.5 hours part-time resource teaching. It is a matter for the school to deploy these resources to meet the special educational needs of the pupils in the school.