Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
490. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if a response will issue to concerns raised by the principal of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18086/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the concerns raised by the school.
Ensuring that pupils adequately supported in education is a priority for this Government.
I want to reassure you that the aim of the frontloading allocation model is not to exclude anyone from getting the supports that they need. The model applies to pupils enrolled in mainstream classes only and provides many advantages for both the school and the pupils. A diagnosis of a disability is not required in order to access additional teaching support. This approach is pupil cantered and schools are expected to ensure that the pupils with the greatest level of need receive the most support. A school can seek a review of its SET or SNA allocation where it considers that the allocation is not sufficient to meet its needs. The Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile. This has been in place since 2017.
Under the allocation model, schools have been provided with a total allocation for special education needs support based on their school profile.
The frontloading of SNA allocations for children with special educational needs is now also under consideration. The provision of an SNA allocation must take account the level of care need in each school. A core recommendation of the National Council for Special Education’s (NCSE) Review of the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme concerned a change in the way that SNAs are allocated to mainstream classes in both primary and post primary schools and called for the greater proportion of SNAs in these classes to be allocated on the basis of an educational profile of each school before the commencement of the school year in a similar manner to the allocation of special education teachers (SETs). Planning for this is currently underway.
As in the case of SETs, the frontloaded allocation model is intended to ensure that SNA posts are in schools and available immediately to students upon their arrival, reducing delays in accessing support.
SNA allocations for special classes and special schools are not affected by this arrangement.
An announcement will be made very soon with regards the allocations for 2022/23.
I have secured a record budget for special education this year and a big increase in core SEN supports. It includes the following: 1,165 NEW special needs assistants, bringing the overall total to over 19000 next year; Almost a 1000 new teachers in special education, across mainstream schools, special classes, and special schools; 269 new special classes were opened this year with plans for 300 more next year.
More children with special educational needs are being supported in school than ever before.
