Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
412. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if he will ringfence dedicated additional funding for every special school across the country in relation to the school summer programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36174/23]
View answerThe Department announced details of the 2023 Summer Programme in February 2023. This followed a previous announcement in October 2022 that additional funding had been secured in Budget 2023 to run the programme to match the investment in 2021 and 2022, bringing the total funding available to €40m. Again, all schools were given an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most.
The central theme for this year’s programme has been ‘Building Confidence and Connections’. The primary aim of this theme was 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 has been 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 have been 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 also 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 has been 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 was appointed to liaise with special schools to help facilitate them in running a programme. A series of live recorded webinars directed specifically at encouraging as well as assuaging any concerns of Special Schools have also taken place and are available to view on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.
Schools have been given flexibility to engage staff that were not employed in their schools to support their summer programme. A portal was made available for teachers and SNAs to register their interest in working on a school based programme in a special school. Student teachers and students in relevant disciplines such as therapy, social care and nursing and others, including early childcare workers and carers, were able to register their interest in working on this year’s Programme.
Other key additional supports that have been put in place for both schools and teachers/SNAs involved in the operation of the 2023 Summer Programme have been:
• School Organiser Role - In 2023, instead of preparation hours, a dedicated role of School Organiser was introduced in each school offering the summer programme. The School Organiser will receive additional remuneration for their role. The gross remuneration for a School Organiser in a special school is €3,000 whilst in a mainstream school the gross remuneration is €2,000. This role has been envisaged to be a key leadership role that will offer development opportunities for staff in schools.
• Staff training – This year, information and training sessions have been provided to all schools, particularly special schools, which has given guidance and training to School Organisers. These sessions were facilitated through an online forum given by one Education Centre.
• Length of school day - For special schools, the length of the day on the Summer Programme has been reduced from the full school day to 10am – 2pm. However, the same daily rate, regardless of the reduced length of day, will continue to be paid to staff taking part in the Summer Programme in special schools. This again recognises the challenges associated with running the programme in a special school.
• Flexibility in Weeks - The weeks that schools run a programme are no longer required to be consecutive. Instead, the scheme has been made flexible to allow schools choose weeks which best suit their needs and staff availability.
• Continuation of 2022 supports - Other enhanced measures utilised from last year have been continued so as to encourage schools’ participation. These include a Centralised Application Process to reduce admin burden on schools, earlier payment of school staff as well as enhanced capitation for special schools.
• Flexible grant funding - Reflecting the unique circumstances that arise in a special school during the summer months, additional grant funding of €2,000 will also be provided for each week that a special school provides a school based Summer Programme.
Measures to encourage schools to sign up this year have proven successful and, based on registrations alone, it has been anticipated that there has been a 20% increase of overall figures of schools participating in the Primary Schools Scheme (including DEIS schools) and a 50% increase of the overall figures of schools participating in the Special Schools Scheme.
Once all the 2023 Summer Programmes have concluded, it is intended that a full review will be carried out, with particular reference to the Special Schools Pilot Programme. It is only then following the review that a decision to ring-fence additional funding in special schools can be made.
