Holly Cairns
Question:663. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to encourage teachers and SNAs to participate in the summer programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16830/23]
View answerTuesday, 18 April 2023
Questions (663, 664)
Holly Cairns
Question:664. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure that enough schools participate in the summer programme to ensure that all eligible children can avail of this support, including any plans for her Department to directly run regional programmes. [16831/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 663 and 664 together.
The Department recently announced details of the 2023 Summer Programme on 9 February 2023. All schools will have an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most.
The central theme for this year’s programme is, ‘Building Confidence and Connections’. The primary aim of this theme is to help our children and young people to realise their potential, to be resilient in dealing with the normal stresses of their lives, to take care of their physical wellbeing and to have a sense of purpose, connection and belonging to their school community.
The main priority in 2023 is that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme.
The terms and conditions for the 2023 Summer Programme are being implemented following a comprehensive review and engagement with education partners and stakeholders since last summer, including the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism.
The Department has engaged with management bodies, schools and parents with a view to encouraging more schools to participate in the 2023 programme.
This year, the Department has introduced a new Special School Programme as a pilot initiative to ensure there is a real focus on supporting special schools. This programme has been designed and developed to ensure supports and funding are targeted to enhance the availability of a school-based programme for pupils in special schools.
As part of this pilot, a National Coordinator has been appointed to liaise with special schools to help facilitate them run a programme. This person has also taken a regional focus to support schools who previously didn’t provide the programme to participate this year. This new role will be developed over the coming years to help increase the number of schools to run a programme for children who need it the most.
A series of live recorded webinars directed specifically at encouraging as well as addressing any concerns of Special Schools have recently taken place and are available to view on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.
In addition, there are two in-school schemes at mainstream primary level and one at post primary.
(a) The Primary School Scheme for pupils in all primary mainstream schools, which provides one cohesive scheme combining the Inclusion programme and special classes from last year, and;
The DEIS expanded literacy and numeracy summer camp/campaí samhraidh for pupils in DEIS schools. This is available to all schools in the DEIS scheme, including those that received their new DEIS status in September 2022.
(b) The Post-Primary Scheme for students with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage. Allocations for the Post-Primary Scheme have been aligned to that of the Primary School Scheme, so that schools have the certainty of the same allocations for special class students as during the regular school year
The following are the key additional supports that will be in place for both schools and teachers/SNAs involved in the operation of the 2023 Summer Programme:
• School Organiser Role - In 2023, instead of preparation hours, there will be a dedicated role of School Organiser in each school offering the summer programme. The School Organiser will receive additional remuneration for their role. This is envisaged to be a key leadership role that will offer development opportunities for staff in schools.
• Summer Programme Manager - In all schools (mainstream and special), the role that was previously called the Overseer will now be called the Summer Programme Manager. This can be the same person as the School Organiser.
• Staff training – This year there will information and training session provided to all schools, including special schools, which will provided guidance and training to School Organisers. This will be facilitated through an online forum by an Education Centre.
• Length of school day - For special schools, the length of the day is being reduced from the full school day to 10am – 2pm but the same daily rate will be paid to staff taking part. This again recognises the challenges associated with running the programme in a special school.
• Flexibility in Weeks - The weeks schools run a programme do not have to be consecutive, the scheme is flexible to allow schools choose weeks which best suit their needs and staff availability.
• Continuation of 2022 supports - Other enhanced measures from last year will continue to encourage schools’ participation, including a Centralised Application Process to reduce admin burden on schools, earlier payment of school staff and an additional capitation to cover the running costs of the scheme, as well as enhanced capitation for special schools.
• Helpline support has been available to schools since the launch of the programme. The online registration portals for Primary, Post-Primary and Special Schools opened on 01 March 2023. Participating schools can request additional resources from the Department to run their programme.
The registration process for schools is currently open until early May, while the home based scheme will be available again and this will be published later in April.
Schools are given flexibility to engage staff that are not currently employed in their schools to support their summer programme. A portal is available for teachers and SNAs to register their interest in working on a school based programme in a special school. This portal is currently live on www.educationposts.ie. An advertisement campaign aimed at recruiting student teachers and students in relevant disciplines such as therapy, social care and nursing and others, including early childcare workers and carers, for the role of SNA is currently being promoted in Third Level Colleges. These students will also be able to register their interest in working on this year’s Programme on www.educationposts.ie.
Another key support being introduced in 2023 is, where a child’s special school is not running a school based programme, a new portal will be available. This portal will allow parents to register their child’s details so that if a place is available in another location, their participation in a program may be organised. This portal is currently in final stages of development by the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) and, when developed, will also be accessible on www.educationposts.ie.
Question No. 664 answered with Question No. 663.