My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled students with special educational needs, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.
Special classes facilitate students with more complex special educational needs who are unable to access the curriculum in a mainstream class, even with support, for most or all of their school day.
In order to access a special class a student must have a professional report stating:
- S/he has ASD
- S/he has complex or severe learning needs that require the support of a special class setting and the reasons why this is the case.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the establishment of special class placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of special classes from 548 in 2011 to 1,459 across the country now, of which 1,196 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes.
The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year, and where special class provision is required, it is planned and established to meet that need. This process is ongoing.
It is not always possible or practical that a special class placement would be available in a child’s local school. In such circumstances, children are eligible for school transport where they are attending the nearest special class that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the NCSE through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
From time to time, the NCSE identifies local areas where additional special class provision is required. In those circumstances, SENOs work with the schools and families concerned to resolve the issues involved.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 will assist in addressing this issue where the NCSE is of the opinion that there is insufficient education provision for children with special educational needs in an area.
Section 8 of the Act, which commenced on the 3rd of December 2018, provides the Minister with a power, after a process of consultation with the NCSE, the board of management and the patron of the school, to compel a school to make additional provision for the education of children with special educational needs.
In circumstances, where the NCSE confirm that there is no school placement available for a child with Special Educational Needs, my Departments Home Tuition grant scheme will provide funding towards the provision of 20 hours tuition per week as an interim measure until the NCSE confirms that a placement is available.
In recognition of the demand for group arrangements by parents of children in receipt of the Home Tuition grant, the scheme provides Parents the option to enter into a group arrangement with other parents of children for whom home tuition has been sanctioned. Parents wishing to enter into such an arrangement must notify my Department in advance for approval. The arrangements must conform to the general terms of the scheme.
My Department’s policy is that all children must be enrolled in the primary school system, whether through placement in mainstream classes, in special classes or in special schools in the September prior to their sixth birthday.
Prior to enrolling in school children may participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. The current entitlement is to a maximum of two years of ECCE.
The upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months for completing the ECCE programme was set in consultation with the Early Years Education Policy Unit in DCYA and is consistent with the policy of my Department.
Current DCYA policy requires that any request for an overage exemption from ECCE eligibility criteria must be supported by a letter from a HSE/Medical Specialist (not a GP/Public Health Nurse) specifically recommending an extra year of pre-school for the child. This requirement relates to a need to maintain a clear and standard basis for applying for exemptions.
Overage exemption applications are also considered with regard to the original purpose of ECCE which is to provide a pre-school programme in the two years before a child starts school.
I would like to advise the Deputy that queries in relation to the operation of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme should be addressed the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
