Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:73. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the Summer Programme 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22623/23]
View answerTuesday, 16 May 2023
Questions (73)
Written answers
I want to thank the Deputy for her question.
My Department announced the details of the 2023 Summer Programme on 9 February 2023. Funding was provided in Budget 2023 to run the programme. This matched the investment in 2021 and 2022 of €40m.
The terms for the 2023 programme are being implemented following a comprehensive review and engagement with education partners, parents, schools and other stakeholders since last summer, including the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism, with a view to encouraging more schools to participate this year.
Once again, all schools will have an opportunity to run a programme for those children who most need this support.
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.
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 live on educationposts.ie and has been widely publicised. Student teachers and students in relevant disciplines such as therapy, social care, nursing and others, including early learning and care workers, will also be able to register their interest in working on this year’s programme.
This year my Department 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, including training, and funding are targeted to enhance the availability of a school-based programme for pupils in special schools. The initiative includes the appointment of a National Coordinator to liaise with Special Schools.
Also this year, there is a Primary School Scheme for pupils in all primary mainstream schools. This provides a more cohesive scheme combining the Inclusion programme and special classes from last year. A Post Primary School Scheme is available for students with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.
This year’s programme will build on the progress that has been made over the last number of years, which has seen participation of children grow from 13,000 in 2019 to over 42,000 in 2022. The measures introduced this year to encourage schools to sign up are proving successful and based on registration to date it is anticipated that there will be a 20% increase on the overall figures (for children attending or schools participating????) and a 50% increase on the number of special schools participating.
The closing date for the registration process for Primary, Post-Primary and Special Schools has been extended until today, 16th May.
The Home Based Programme is also available again for pupils with complex special education needs where a school-based programme is not being run or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable. Details of the Home-based programme are published on the Department’s website and all schools have been contacted directly with details and supporting documentation. The online sanctioning portal is open until the 9th June.
Full details of the Summer Programme is available on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.