A major review of special education in Ireland has found some children are waiting over a year for a diagnosis whilst others find it hard to get a school place. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) carried out the review. It says it is disappointed to find that some schools operate "soft barriers" to the enrolment of children with special needs.
The review found that some parents and schools find it difficult to access a diagnosis of disability which is needed to trigger additional teaching support for students with more complex disabilities. The NCSE has called for a new model to be developed for the allocation of additional teaching resources to mainstream schools - one that is based on the profiled need of each school, without the need for a diagnosis of disability.
It also notes that the learning profile of pupils can vary from school to school, and that some schools have a number of students with learning difficulties while others have fewer. For this, the NCSE recommends that any new system of allocating teaching resources should be targeted in line with the profile of educational need in each mainstream school rather than the current system of linking them to a particular category of disability, size of enrolment or number of class teachers.
It has recommended a new enrolment policy to make sure all children can get a school place. It wants to see the introduction of "a robust regulatory enrolment framework to ensure that every child with special educational needs can access a school placement".
The NCSE review found that students with special educational needs are well supported in schools and are making good progress. But it has also raised concerns that the current system puts pressure on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to diagnose children, even if there is no clinical evidence to support it, just to secure resources.
The NCSE noted the Department of Education and Skills annual €1.3 billion spend on supporting students with special educational needs in schools is at record high levels despite the continuing economic difficulties. This equates to 15% of the DES total spend on education each year and compares with the €468 million allocated for special educational needs in schools in 2004.
Key recommendations include:
- Commencing the Education for Person with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 as soon as resources permit. The NCSE recognises that in the current economic climate resources are not available to permit this.
- The adoption of a robust regulatory enrolment framework to ensure all children with special educational needs can access a school placement
- That teaching resources are allocated equitably to schools in line with their educational profile of need without the need for a diagnosis of disability.
- That a framework is developed to improve teachers' knowledge and expertise in supporting and educating students with special educational needs.
- To ensure that additional supports drive improved educational outcomes through individualised planning.
- The provision of additional funding to special schools and special classes to allow them to purchase and replace equipment.
The Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn says the diagnosis should not be the trigger for help
Chief Executive of the NCSE Teresa Griffin explains their concerns from the report
