Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2020
254. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if urgent assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied) in respect of the needs outlined in correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3201/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports.
The SENOs are available to assist parents to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs and to discuss their child's special educational needs. SENOs are guided by the information regarding diagnosis and the recommendations contained in professional reports.
The Department encourages parents and school authorities to engage locally regarding pupils' education. 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.
All school have an allocation of special education teaching support for pupils with special educational needs. The Special Education Teaching allocation model provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on a school’s educational profile.
This allocation will allow schools to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who require such support in their schools and for schools to deploy resources based on each pupil’s individual learning needs.
By monitoring the learning of pupils in schools on a daily basis, schools are best placed to decide who needs the most extra help.
The special education teaching allocation model gives schools greater autonomy in how they allocate special education teaching resources.
Where a parent has an assessment for their child which notes that they have a particular special educational need, or disability, they should still bring this to the attention of the school, as it may assist the school to decide how best to support the child.
The school will take account of learning needs as evidenced by performance in schools but also supported where relevant by information provided regarding the nature of a condition that a pupil may have.
Parents are encouraged to discuss with the class teacher, or the school Principal, the manner in which teaching support can be provided. Ongoing monitoring of your child’s performance over the course of the school year will also support the school in deciding how much support can be allocated or how much support is required.
