Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 November 2019
73. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 193 of 22 October 2019, if there is a timeline for the development and implementation of proposals following the comprehensive review of the special needs assistant scheme; and if so, when they can be expected. [48333/19]
View answerArising from the National Council for Special Education Comprehensive Review of the SNA Scheme, and my subsequent commitment to develop proposals for the implementation of recommendations in the review, I announced on 27th March this year the trialling of the School Inclusion Model, a new model of support for students with special educational and additional care needs. This new Model is being piloted in 75 schools in the Kildare/Wicklow/South Dublin region in the current school year.
Key features of the School Inclusion Model are:
- Development of a new frontloaded allocation model for the allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in line with their profiled need, thus breaking the link with the requirement for an assessment.
- The expansion of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) to provide a more intensive support service for pilot schools.
- The development of a National Training Programme for special needs assistants, to provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge to support students with additional care needs arising from significant medical, physical, emotional/behavioural, sensory, communication and other significant difficulties that pose a barrier to participating in school life.
- The development of a national nursing service for children with complex medical needs in schools to complement current provision provided through community based services.
- Establishment, on a pilot basis, of a new Regional Support service under the National Council for Special Education to include specialists in speech and language; occupational therapy and behaviour practitioners.
- The continuation of the current in-school therapy project for another year. This involves 19 Speech and Language Therapists and 12 Occupational Therapists working with and within schools.
The School Inclusion Model aims to build schools’ capacity and to provide the right supports at the right time for students with additional needs.
A comprehensive independent evaluation of the pilot will be required to test its effectiveness and provide guidance on issues to consider in any potential mainstreaming of the School Inclusion Model.
There is a number of other recommendations in relation to the training of SNAs and the development of a nursing programme for children with the most complex needs being progressed.
