The child referred to by the Deputy is currently enrolled in a special school and it is understood that the child is due to transition at the end of the current school year. The Deputy will be aware that one of the functions of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is to provide support to schools, and parents/guardians of children with special educational needs. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie. The role of the SENO in planning for the transition of children from one stage of schooling to another can include the provision of information to parents and or liaising between schools and parents. The NEPS psychologists can also be involved in supporting the transition of pupils with complex special needs. Information including general principles for planning for transitioning are also available on the NCSE website.
The following information was provided under Standing Order 40A
The child to whom you referred has a diagnosis of autism and is currently enrolled in Sonas Special School, Carrigaline, Co. Cork, which is an early intervention school for children with autism catering for children between 3 and 6 years of age.
You queried if I could ensure that this child would get a place in Scoil Aislinn Special School in Cork in September 2014 when she is due to transition from her current school placement.
I wish to advise you that the enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, a parent may appeal the refusal to enrol under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998. In such cases the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld, the Secretary General of my Department may direct a school to enrol a pupil.
My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.
Central to the Departmentâs approach is the aim that all children with special needs including those with autism should be provided with a school based provision through a mainstream class placement with supports, a special class placement or a placement in a special school which caters for children with autism.
You will be aware that children with autism present with a wide range of needs. Some children are capable of being fully integrated into mainstream schools without additional teaching or care supports. Others are able to attend mainstream schools but need additional teaching and/or care assistance. Many are best enrolled in autism-specific classes or special schools where more intensive and supportive interventions are required. Some may move from one setting to another as they get older and differing needs/strengths/abilities emerge. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for assisting parents to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs. Parents may contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs and to seek assistance in identifying placement options, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie. In addition to the NCSE, the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB will try to help parents to find a school placement if their child has been unable to secure a school placement to date. The NEWB can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by telephone at 01-8738700.
