Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
553. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education to detail the data that was collected in regard to the recently introduced approach to completing the report on educational needs in schools which was conducted with a number of schools around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17445/23]
View answer554. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the avenues that are open to a parent whose child has undergone a report on educational needs but is unsatisfied with the report findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17446/23]
View answer555. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education how the NCSE define 'appropriately qualified' in relation to a person nominated to carry out a report on the educational needs of a child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17447/23]
View answer556. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if additional administrative resources have been made available to schools to undertake reports on educational needs or if this task will be added to the work of teachers, special educational teachers or special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17448/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 553 to 556, inclusive, together.
In finalising the AON process, there has been extensive consultation with the education partners and with individual schools. I am very grateful to all those who contributed to this process, in particular, to the 80 schools that assisted in trialling the process and in providing detailed feedback on the guidance documents and resources put in place to support the process. This process was completed in December 2022 and feedback from the schools involved and stakeholders has been incorporated into revised guidance documents and the AON Report of Education Needs form.
The feedback received from the schools showed a trend of recurring questions, to assist the schools my department developed a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which was published on the Departments website on 01st February, and can be found at this link www.gov.ie/en/publication/91c1c-report-of-education-needs-for-the-purpose-of-assessment-of-need-disability-act-2005/
The NCSE, is also currently finalising a document for schools which provides exemplars of completed AON forms.
The Assessment of Need (AON) process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005 and is under the remit of the Health Service Executive (HSE). Following on from a court ruling in October 2021 there is now a legal obligation on the education system to assist the HSE as part of the HSE’s Assessment of Need Process (AON).
Assessment Officers working under the remit of the HSE are charged with organising the Assessment of Need. The Assessment Officer coordinates and completes the Assessment Report and makes the determination as to whether or not a child or young person meets the definition of disability contained in the Act.
On completion of an AON form in a school setting, it is returned to the HSE via the NCSE. If a parent is dissatisfied with aspects of the AON process or with the report arising, the matter should be raised in the first instance with the Assessment Officer, who has responsibility for this process.
If the HSE Assessment Officer forms the opinion that there may be a need for an education service to be provided to an applicant, they will request the NCSE to nominate a person with the appropriate expertise to assist in carrying out the assessment of education needs.
The NCSE is obliged to nominate a person with appropriate expertise to assist in the education assessment process. Where the child is enrolled in a school the Education of Persons with Special Education Needs Act (EPSEN) 2004 names the principal as the person the NCSE should contact.
The educational component of the AON process refers to assessment of education needs. Assessment in education is an everyday practice in schools which results in the identification of a child’s education need and the measures required to address these needs.
Schools provide for the inclusion and participation of all students and provide an education which is appropriate to a student’s abilities and needs. Identification of education needs, therefore, is central to the way schools operate. This aligns with the obligations on schools arising from the Education Act 1998. Teachers use a range of assessment practices as part of the Continuum of Support framework. This enables the school to identify, address and review progress in meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of the pupil, as well as other education needs.
Schools have been provided with a range of resources to ensure that the education needs of all students, including those with a disability or other special education needs, are identified and supported. In announcing the introduction of the Special Education Teacher (SET) allocation model, the Department of Education issued Guidelines for Primary and Post-Primary schools (2017) to assist them in identifying and providing for the special education and learning needs of students. The Guidelines allow for schools to utilise a portion of their SET allocation to coordinate activities relating to special education. In that regard, schools have been advised that they can use SET coordination time to complete AON forms.
In addition, the Department of Education and the NCSE have put in place comprehensive supports to assist schools in completing the educational component of the HSE’s AON process. These include:
- A guidance document which provides step by step instructions for the completion of the AON form
- A short video which provides instructions for the completion of the AON form
- Dedicated email support from the NCS
- Dedicated phone support from NCSE advisors
- An FAQ document which will be updated regularly
- Completed exemplars for different school settings
Where schools require additional support to that already listed, they can request an in-person support visit from an NCSE advisor to assist in the completion of the AON form
The Department is committed to monitoring the impact of the AON process on schools and will formally review this at the end of the current school year. This review will ensure that any additional guidance, support or resource that is required will be put in place at the earliest possible opportunity. The education stakeholders will be invited to participate in this review process.
In the interim, my Department and NCSE will work with the education stakeholders to ensure that schools are supported as outlined above to complete the AON process.
