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Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020

Tuesday, 21 July 2020

Questions (370)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

370. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will amend the summer provision programme in view of recently announced changes to the programme to expand the scheme to include certain post-primary school children to allow children transitioning to mainstream schools from an early-years setting who have a diagnosis as laid out in the guidance document to avail of the programme and receive support from a tutor in the same way as a child transitioning to a special school or class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16583/20]

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Written answers

Summer Provision is aimed at helping children with complex needs prepare for a return to education, particularly after the health restrictions that have been in place over recent months. As work continues on planning for the re-opening of schools, it is important that we take measures to help the prevention of regression among these children in terms of their education and social interactions.

The eligibility criteria for summer provision includes children in the following categories:

1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism

2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties

3. Any child in a special school or a special class

4. Children transitioning into a special class from early years settings to primary school

5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:

- children with Down syndrome

- children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing

- children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment

- children who have a moderate general learning disability

- children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties

The Government has also approved the inclusion of children with Down Syndrome who are attending post primary school in the home-based strand of the Programme.

Children with the listed disabilities entering primary school next September are also eligible for the programme.

There are no plans to extend the programme further.

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