Seán Sherlock
Question:417. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of schools not taking part in the school-based summer programme in 2023; and the number of students impacted. [35640/23]
View answerTuesday, 25 July 2023
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Written answers
Details of this year’s Summer Programme were announced by the Department on 9 February 2023. Again, 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 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.
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.
Children entering primary school in September 2023 and who meet the above criteria are also eligible for the programme.
Full details on eligibility are available on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme. 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 also engaged with management bodies, schools and parents with a view to encouraging more schools to participate in the 2023 programme.
As the Summer Programme is reliant on schools and their staff choosing to participate on a voluntary basis, it is a matter for the Board of Management of the school to decide whether or not it will participate in the programme in any given year. Where a school is not running a Summer Programme or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable, the home-based programme is again available for pupils with complex special educational needs.
For the purposes of the Summer Programme, children with complex special educational needs are defined as:
Any student enrolled in a special school or a special class - primary and post primary.
Students presenting with the most significant needs in mainstream classes in primary and post-primary schools who are accessing the highest level of the Continuum of Support (School Support Plus). This will include a small number of students with enduring needs which significantly affect their capacity to learn, to function independently and to participate in education.
These students require highly individualised and differentiated learning programmes that are significantly different to their peers. These students may present with the following:
Significant needs with physical and/or sensory functioning (including students who are Deaf or have severe to profound hearing loss and students who are blind or have severe to profound visual impairment)
Significant needs in cognitive functioning and independence/daily living skills (including students who have moderate to severe OR significant/profound learning disability)
Significant needs in social communication, social interaction combined with rigid repetitive patterns of behaviour
Students with Down syndrome
Students with severe OR significant emotional behavioural needs to the extent that these behaviours of concern are impacting on a student’s ability to learn, to function independently and to participate fully in school life.
Autistic Students are eligible for this Programme.
Children in the above categories entering primary school and Early Intervention ASD classes in September 2023 are also eligible for the programme.
Full details of the Home-based programme for parents/legal guardians and teachers/SNAs, including eligibility criteria, is available on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.
Regarding the Deputy's request, I wish to advise that all schools were invited to register an interest in running the summer programme. Final data in relation to participating schools will not be known until all summer programmes have concluded. However, I can confirm that based on registrations received approx. 1/3 of schools across the Primary and Post-Primary Sector, including special schools, expressed an interest in participating in this year's programme. This will see an increase of 20% on the number of schools who took part in 2022. In relation to the number of students impacted, this information is not available as it is a matter for the individual schools who take part in the programme to determine which, if any, of their students meet the eligibility criteria outlined.