Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
723. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the definition of tidying and disinfecting in terms of the special needs assistant, SNA, role (details supplied); the guidelines to be put in place for specific care needs such as toileting, feeding, movement breaks and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20815/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie
My Department has now published The Roadmap to the Full Reopening of school.
This roadmap sets outs how schools will reopen for all students, including students with special educational needs, from the end of August.
It envisages what the operation of our schools will look like upon reopening and contains a range of guidance on the measures to be implemented in schools in order to minimise the risk of the introduction, or spread, of infection in schools.
The Return to Work Safely Protocol will be implemented in all schools which can best prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 in the school environment.
The Roadmap sets out the steps that must be taken before a workplace reopens, including mandatory COVID-19 induction training for all staff including SNAs.
The Department is preparing and will disseminate a series of materials for schools to use in planning for reopening and in communicating with their communities in advance of schools reopening. These will include:
- Induction training programmes for school staff produced by the Department – webinars on health and safety, returning to work safely, managing school return and wellbeing.
- Tailored training is in development for different categories of school staff: teachers, lead worker representatives, SNAs, cleaners etc.
- Guidance and support information on curriculum matters.
- Distribution to schools of printed posters with age-appropriate key health messages: hand washing, sneeze and cough etiquette etc. Provision to schools of digital versions of these for additional supply to be sourced locally if required.
- Distribution to schools of the materials for their school communities.
- Guidance for schools and ideas on communicating effectively on school reopening to their pupils and families.
The Roadmap provides details of a range of Additional Supports which will be made available to schools to implement their Covid-19 Response Plan and to operate in a sustainable way. These supports include:
- An enhanced Minor Works Grant to support full implementation of COVID-19 response plans;
- Employing an aide to help with the school re-opening logistics;
- Additional financial supports to provide for additional cleaning, hand hygiene and PPE costs under the COVID-19 response plans;
- Increased management support to primary schools;
- Extending the current pilot supply panel for substitute teachers on a nationwide basis; at primary school level;
- 1,080 additional teaching posts at post primary school level including 120 guidance posts;
- Enhanced supervision supports for post primary schools.
All of these measures will support the return of children with special educational needs to schools in August.
My Department is also making additional provision for special schools and special classes, in recognition of the particular challenges that these schools and classes will face dealing with children with complex medical and care needs.
The Minor Works Grant at Primary and Post Primary level include enhanced rates in respect of students in special classes and schools. This will facilitate preparatory works to be completed in schools to facilitate reopening such as refurbishment of toilets and reconfiguration of school spaces.
The additional per capita funding being provided for pupils in special schools and special classes recognises the additional needs that these pupils have and the additional measures that schools may be required to take to support them.
The Department is also supporting the replacement of all absences of SNAs in school settings.
Enhanced COVID-19 rates are payable in respect of students attending special schools and special classes attached to mainstream schools to assist with the extra costs associated with the cleaning of classrooms with a small number of students, operating specialist provision.
The COVID-19 capitation grant will also be the mechanism through which additional funding will be provided to cater for costs related to hand hygiene measures and PPE requirements under the COVID-19 Response Plan. Additional provision for this purpose will be confirmed with the establishment of the drawdown framework of suppliers.
It is also recognised that pupils with SEN will require particular support at the time of transition back to school including supporting their well-being, reducing potential anxiety and planning learning experiences that take account of the effect of school closures on their progress.
Schools will have discretion to manage and redistribute their teaching support resources in order to best meet the learning needs of their pupils/students, including pupils/students at "very high risk" to COVID-19.
The return to school package includes enhanced allocations to support staff and children, including those in a special educational needs environment, to be able to return safely for the forthcoming school year.
