Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
91. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specialised training given to teachers tasked with teaching children with Autism Spectrum Disorder; and the numbers of teachers who have availed of this training. [43115/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has provided for a comprehensive system of continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers in the area of special educational needs including teachers of children with Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD). Central to this is the "Special Education Support Service" (SESS) which was established in September 2003. The service consolidates, co-ordinates, develops and delivers a range of professional development initiatives and support structures for school personnel working with students with special educational needs including teachers of children with ASD who teach in a variety of educational settings. These settings include mainstream primary and post-primary schools, special schools and special classes.
SESS provides a wide range of supports and interventions in the area of Autism via online training, face-to-face training, phone advice and individualised support for schools identified with CPD needs. The approaches include Language and Communication, Managing Inclusion, Curriculum Access for Pupils with General Learning Disabilities and Autism, Sensory Integration, PECS, TEACCH, Social Stories, and Applied Behaviour Analysis. Delivery of this CPD begins prior to their entry to the units and continues following the opening of the unit with ongoing in school support as well as programmes of CPD. Since 2008 SESS has provided over 19,400 CPD places to teachers of students with ASD which include in-school support, seminars, online courses, ABA and Asperger's Syndrome. Furthermore, teachers can now have SESS CPD in the area of ASDs accredited by St Angela's College in Sligo.
Funding is also available through the SESS support scheme enabling teachers to identify their own CPD needs and attend appropriate and relevant courses not provided directly by the SESS. Funding of over €16,000 was provided to cover these applications in the 2010/2011 school year. Further information on all supports provided by SESS to teacher of special needs students is available on the SESS website at www.sess.ie.
In addition, my Department also funds several third level courses in teacher training colleges and universities. These include:
- Combined Post-Graduate Diploma Programme of Continuing Professional Development for Teachers involved in Learning Support & Special Education (available in seven colleges across the country) (295 places available annually)
- Graduate Certificate in the education of students with ASDs (St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra) (18 places available annually)
- Post-Graduate Certificate/Diploma Programme of Continuing Professional Development in Special Educational Needs (ASDs) for teachers (St. Angela's College, Sligo) (25 places available annually)
- Diploma in Applied Behaviour Analysis (Trinity College, Dublin) (3 places available annually).
