Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
428. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if she has considered bringing in children with special educational needs into mainstream settings ahead of the main cohort of students returning to school at eight years of age and upwards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11310/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI know that a phased re-opening is particularly challenging for many children with special educational needs who have not yet returned to school and their families.
The purpose of this cautious phased return is to continue to limit the mobility of the population and curb the spread of the virus.
These further phases have been developed in close collaboration with education stakeholders and follow ongoing engagement with the Department of Health and Public Health, HSE.
There will be a period of time between each phase to assess the impact of reopening on aspects of community transmission. It is not possible for other children to return to in-school provision during this period.
My Department is anxious to support those pupils/students with SEN who are unable to return to in-school teaching and learning under these phases.
At Primary level in recognition that not all primary pupils with special education needs will be back in school in this phase:
- Schools have been asked to prioritise deployment of their SET resources to facilitate the engagement of those pupils with SEN who are in 3rd to 6th class. This will necessitate further collaboration between the SETs and class teachers to establish current priority learning needs among those pupils.
- The supplementary programme for eligible pupils who are in 3rd to 6th class will be extended by a further two weeks (an additional 10 hours for a total allocation of 30 hours).
At Post Primary level in recognition that not all students with special education needs will be back in school in this phase:
- The supplementary programme for eligible students who have not yet returned to school will be extended by a further two weeks (an additional 10 hours, for a total allocation of 30 hours).
