Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2015
637. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 148 of 21 January 2014, if advice on the use of seclusion, isolation, or withdrawal rooms by the National Council for Special Education was ever received; and the detail of this advice. [34134/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's policy is that the well-being and safety of children should be at the centre of all policy and practices in schools.
The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school and is required to prepare a code of behaviour in accordance with Section 23 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000.
Responsibility for the management of behaviour in schools is therefore a matter for individual schools. 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.
Published guidelines which are available to schools include:
Supporting Students with Behavioural, Emotional, and Social difficulties, which is available on the Department's website www.education.ie; the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) guidelines for schools on Developing a Code of Behaviour and the National Educational Psychological Services document Behavioural Emotional and Social Difficulties - a Continuum of Support: Guidelines for Teachers.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has recently submitted their Policy Advice on Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In developing this policy advice, the NCSE has consulted widely with parents, professionals and other stakeholders and interested parties while also conducting research in relation to this area. The policy advice is currently under consideration in my Department and I expect it will be published in the coming weeks.
