Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 December 2018
119. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a reduction in the paperwork requirement for special schools particularly the personal pupil plans when requesting one extra SNA in addition to a reasonable timeframe for a response from the NCSE in view of the fact that staff continue to deal with violent behaviour in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52415/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all pupils and employees in their school.
Students who have a challenging behavioural needs should, in the first instance, be supported by teachers, other staff members and by whole school polices on the management of behaviour in schools. The emphasis in the school situation should be on the development of well co-ordinated interventions in response to the student's identified needs. The provision of appropriate teaching and health supports, as required, should result in improved behaviours, leading to improved educational outcomes.
Tusla's Educational Welfare Service, under the aegis of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has published guidelines for schools on Codes of Behaviour which all schools are required by law to have in place.
Schools may seek advice from their local National Educational Psychological Services psychologist, from the NCSE’s Support Service which includes Special Educational Needs Organisers, the National Behavioural Support Service and the Special Education Support Service, as to how children with behavioural needs can best be supported in school.
A range of guidance is available for schools in relation to the management of student behaviour. The Department published Guidelines for Supporting Pupils with Behavioural, Emotional, and Social Difficulties, which is available on the Department’s website, www.education.ie. The National Educational Psychological Services document Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties – A Continuum of Support also provides advice for teachers.
Training is available for schools in relation to the provision of support for children with special educational needs from the NCSE’s Regional Service. The Special Education Support Service can, as part of their designated training modules, provide guidance for schools in relation to the management of difficult behaviour.
In situations where behavioural management strategies have not been successful and where it is demonstrated how access to SNA support can assist with ongoing planning and intervention for the student such support will be provided in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014.
Further to this, a new model of allocation of SNA support is currently being considered by my Department. The Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme, published by the NCSE on 30 May 2018, has recommended the development of a frontloaded model for allocating SNA support to schools for children with special educational needs who have additional care needs.
The introduction of such a model of allocation would reduce, and in many cases eliminate, the need for individual applications and professional assessments in order to access resources.
Work is also ongoing in my Department in relation to the development of guidelines for crisis situations. Following a request by my Department for policy advice from the NCSE, which provided recommendations in relation to crisis situations and complex behavioural needs, work on developing guidelines for schools is underway. My Department will engage with education partners on these in the coming months. The guidelines will assist schools in responding in circumstances where students pose an immediate threat of harm to themselves or others.
