Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
225. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if University College Dublin as a university is capable of offering accreditation at level 5 or 6 to the ten-month SNA course launched in 2020; if she will provide an update on any development in terms of providing an accreditation for the SNA programme in UCD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36813/22]
View answerSpecial Needs Assistants (SNAs) play a huge role in helping to ensure the inclusion of pupils with significant care needs in education and in school life. This was acknowledged in the Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in 2018.
The Review made a number of recommendations regarding SNAs including referencing the training needs of SNAs. In this regard, the NCSE recommended that a new national training programme at Level 5 of the National Qualification Framework be developed for existing SNAs who do not have the requisite level of training and for new SNAs on appointment. The NCSE also recommended that training tailored to the specific complex needs of some students being cared for by SNAs would also be provided.
The policy advice has been considered by the Department. It was decided that priority should be given to the development of a training programme for SNAs who may not have had a recent opportunity to access a training programme tailored to their role. The new first national training course for SNAs provided by UCD aims to enhance the knowledge, skills and expertise of SNAs whose work is central to the inclusion of students with additional care and complex needs in school life. The programme is fully funded by the Department and delivered at no cost to the SNA.
This is the first national training programme for SNAs employed in schools and is tailored to their needs. As this is the first programme, it is appropriate to take the time to review outcomes which will inform the future approach to ongoing training and professional development of SNAs. Part of that consideration will include accreditation.
Officials in my Department have recently received two reports of the programme from UCD:
- A Report of review on the SNA programme, conducted by the Teaching and Learning Committee within UCD School of Education and
- An evaluation report based on data gathered from the first cohort of students to complete the programme
The reports are under review at present and will inform our consideration on accreditation.
