NEWS: Programme for Special Education announced by minister; New National Training Programme for SNAs

Programme for Special Education announced by new minister

“AS the first-ever Minister with responsibility for special education, I am determined that the department’s vision will have clear and actionable goals," said minister Josepha Madigan announcing priorities in special education provision.

The priorities are:

Staff Professional Training: Improving initial teacher education and training, and continuous professional development, in order to ensure that teachers and SNAs are supported to receive training and ongoing guidance in the area of inclusion and special educational needs provision.

School Inclusion: Providing a wraparound support service in schools for young people, including occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, behavioural practitioners, and crisis support by expanding the pre-school and in-school therapy demonstration project and the school inclusion model.

School Places: Improved long-term planning for the provision and development of special school and special class places; supporting both special schools and pupils with special educational needs in mainstream education.

Listening and Learning, Empowering Students: Ensuring that the student voice is at the core of planning with regular contact with young people and families.

Updating the Laws: Reviewing and updating the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act.

Wellbeing: Expanding the National Educational Psychological Services.

Improving Supports: Improving the Assistive Technology Support scheme and the Home Tuition scheme.

Gifted and Talented: Supporting exceptionally able students.

SNAs: Providing for the new SNAs, a new SNA training programme, and a new model for allocating SNAs to schools.

Irish Sign Language: Ensuring support for ISL to reflect the right of ISL users to use ISL as their native language.

Summer Provision: Reforming the Summer Provision programme for students with complex needs.

New National Training Programme for Special Needs Assistants

THE Government has announced the launch of a new National Training Programme for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).

This is the first dedicated national training programme for SNAs. It will be delivered by UCD and funded by the Department of Education at no cost to the SNA.

The new online programme for SNAs will begin in January 2021 and will consist of five modules delivered over a ten-month period covering inclusion, communications and language, a range of special needs and information on caring for students with additional care needs.

In total, there are 3,500 places available on the programme over the next four years. Applications opened on October 1st.