Sorca Clarke
Question:274. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the criteria set for accessing the summer programme 2023 and the home-based programme. [19307/23]
View answerTuesday, 25 April 2023
Questions (274)
Written answers
The Department announced details of the 2023 Summer Programme on 9 February 2023. All schools 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 well-being 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.
This year’s school based programme is open to pupils enrolled in special schools, special classes, pupils who have complex special educational needs in mainstream classes and those who are most at risk of educational disadvantage.
Schools with special classes running a school based scheme should prioritise students in special classes when assigning places for their programme. All students attending special classes are eligible to participate in their school’s summer programme.
Children entering primary school in September 2023 and who meet the above criteria are also eligible for the programme.
Subsequent places can then be given to pupils with complex special educational needs in mainstream classes with the remaining places on the programme being offered to those at most risk of educational disadvantage.
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 Primary School Scheme combines the Inclusion Programme and Special Class elements from last year into one cohesive scheme for mainstream primary school bring a more targeted approach for children with special educational needs.
This year also introduces a new adjustment to the scheme for 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.
In addition, there are two in-school schemes at mainstream primary level and one at post primary:-
- The Primary School Scheme for pupils in all primary mainstream schools.
- The DEIS expanded literacy and numeracy summer camp/campaí samhraidh for pupils in DEIS primary schools.
- The Post-Primary Scheme for students with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.
Helpline support has been made available to schools since the launch of the programme. The online registration portals for Primary, Post-Primary and Special Schools were opened on 01 March 2023. Participating schools can request additional resources from the Department to run their programme.
This year’s Home-based programme will be available for students with complex special educational needs where their school is not running a Summer Programme or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable.
Details of this year’s Home-based programme will be published shortly along with full details of eligibility criteria. Full information, when available, will issue to schools directly and published on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.