Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2022
448. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she will detail the training that has been undertaken by newly-recruited special needs assistants prior to the start of the school year in order to better support students with a disability; if she will provide details of the ongoing training for SNAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51529/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
When appointing an SNA, it is a matter for the Board of Management to ensure that SNAs are in a position to effectively meet the care needs of the pupil(s) for whom SNA support has been allocated in the school.
Where specific training is required relating to the care needs of pupils, the Board of Management should liaise with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in order to ensure that the HSE provides guidance and training that enables the SNA to meet the care needs of the pupil in an appropriate manner. It is a matter for individual school authorities to make such arrangements locally based on the specific care needs of the children enrolled in the school. The Department has no role in providing such training and does not hold the information requested.
When a school opens a special class, considerable supports and resources are made available from the National Council of Special Education and the National Educational Psychological Service, including a seminar for principals, training courses for staff, and each school is linked with an NCSE advisor.
In relation to ongoing training for SNA’s, the Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme (SNAs) was published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in 2018. The Review made a number of recommendations regarding SNAs including referencing the training needs of SNAs. The NCSE recommended that a new national training programme at Level 5 of the National Qualification Framework be developed for existing SNAs.
The policy advice was considered by the Department. It was decided that priority should be given to the development of a training programme for SNAs who may not have had a recent opportunity to access a training programme tailored to their role.
Following a public procurement process, University College Dublin (UCD) School of Education, in conjunction with UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, was selected to develop and deliver this important educational initiative. UCD’s wide-ranging experience and expertise will enable the delivery of a broad-ranging and high-quality programme. This programme began in January 2021 with an intake of 500 students.
This major educational initiative will enhance the knowledge, skills and expertise of SNAs whose work is central to the inclusion of students with additional care and complex needs in school life. For some SNAs, this programme may present the first opportunity in recent times for them to engage with the theory and research based best practice underlying their role.
Participation is voluntary and the programme is fully funded by the Department. Each participant who completes the programme successfully receives a certificate from UCD School of Education.
