Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Ceisteanna (155, 158)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

155. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if children with Down's syndrome, autism and other disabilities that are finishing sixth class in June 2020, will be included in the July provision in advance of going on to secondary school in September 2020; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12968/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

158. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools taking up the July provision in 2020; the number of pupils involved; the number of pupils in a home setting as opposed to a school setting; the number that were provided with the July provision in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12987/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs.

The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.

Approximately 15,000 children were eligible for July Provision in 2019 of which 10,563 or 70% accessed the scheme. There were two strands to the July Provision scheme, a school-based scheme and a home-based scheme. In 2019, 7,158 accessed the home based scheme and 3,405 accessed the school based scheme in 232 participating schools.

With regard to Summer Provision 2020, to date 231 schools have indicated that they intend to run a school based programme involving approximately 3,700 children. 9,781 families have registered for the home based summer programme involving 9,820 children.

In-school or home-based supports by teachers and SNAs will help to prevent regression among children with complex special educational needs.

The eligibility criteria includes the following categories of children:

1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism

2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties

3. Any child in special school or a special class in a Primary School

4. Children transitioning into a special class or special school from early year’s settings

5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:

- Children with Down syndrome

- Children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing

- Children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment

- Children who have a moderate general learning disability

- Children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties

Funding for summer provision is not available to in respect of children who are not covered by the programme criteria. I have asked my officials to review the programme having regard to the need to ensure equity as far as possible. A child must meet at least one of the eligibility criteria. Sixth class pupils are eligible for the programme.

If a Parent is in doubt about their child’s eligibility, they should consult their child’s school or contact my Department. Contact details are available on my Departments website https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/summerprovision/summer-education-programme-2020.html .

All special schools and primary schools with special classes are invited to provide the school based summer provision for their students. This programme will run for a minimum of two weeks and can extend up to four weeks where the schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants are willing to participate.

Home-based provision will be available where a child’s local school is not providing a programme or does not have the capacity to accommodate a child in a planned programme this year. In this situation my Department will provide grant funding towards the engagement by Parents of a registered teacher/SNA to provide home based support for 10 hours a week for 4 weeks.

A dedicated online registration system for families of children with complex special needs to access Summer Provision is now available on Gov.ie/summerprovision.

Parents are asked to register their participation online, providing some outline information of the extent of their participation in the programme e.g. number of weeks.

Once registered, the parent is then free to plan and organise the programme for their child by consulting with the guidance on my Departments website.

A programme for DEIS schools for this Summer was also announced.

Full information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision.

Question No. 156 answered with Question No. 140.
Barr
Roinn