I wish to advise the Deputy that the Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school. Many schools may withdraw pupils occasionally from the main classroom for short periods of time in order to manage pupil behaviour and to speak to pupils, or to address problematic behaviour, in a room away from a main classroom.
Schools should supervise and support children who are distressed or out of control until they have recovered and are able to re-engage in the classroom. Schools may seek advice from their local National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) psychologist, from their NCSE Special Educational Needs Organiser, or from the National Behavioural Support Services, as to how children with behavioural needs can best be supported in school.
The Department has recently published new Guidelines for Schools on Supporting Students with Behavioural, Emotional, and Social difficulties and training is available for schools in relation to the provision of support for children with special educational needs from the Special Education Support Services (SESS), who can, as part of their designated training modules, provide guidance for schools in relation to containment or management measures for difficult behaviour.
It should be noted that there is a distinction to be made between rooms where children may be withdrawn to address problematic behaviour, and Sensory Rooms.
Sensory Rooms, which are also referred to as Multi-Sensory Rooms, are used to provide a variety of sensory stimuli associated with smell, taste, touch, sight and sound, and which are designed to provide sensory stimulation for pupils with special educational needs, in spaces which are designed to encourage positive actions and responses for pupils with sensory impairment. They can also be used for pupils to use interactive equipment towards specific educational aims.
Where a parent or any other person has concerns about the care or safety of a child they should report these concerns to the Board of Management of the school, or may report the matter as a child protection concern to the HSE or to the Department of Education and Skills.
The specific issue which the Deputy has raised regarding the Health Service Executive should be referred to that body for its consideration, or to the Department of Health.
