Concern over support for pupils with special educational needs in Offaly
Concerned school principals, teachers, Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and board of management members from across Offaly gathered in Tullamore on Wednesday evening last to air their concerns with the current system of ensuring that pupils with special educational needs (SEN) receive an education appropriate to their needs.
The meeting was organised by members of Offaly’s IPPN (Irish Primary Principal Network).
The very well attended meeting at Tullamore Educate Together national school included local political representatives Carol Nolan (Independent TD), Cllr Aoife Masterson (Sinn Féin) and Cllr Fergus McDonnell (Independent Ireland) and Cllr Ollie Bryant (Fianna Fáil). Unfortunately no one from the National Council for Special Education was available to attend.
The meeting heard excellent presentations from four principals of their experiences and challenges in accessing resources and accommodating children with SEN.
They described their frustration with the system of allocating supports for children with special educational needs. They complimented the professionalism of NCSE staff on the ground endeavouring to do a very difficult job within the constraints of a system that is not fit for purpose.
Concerns were raised about barriers being put in the way of children accessing school places appropriate to their needs and a number of speakers highlighted the disparity between the Department of Education policy in this area and practice on the ground.
School leaders repeatedly emphasised their willingness to work with the NCSE to improve the system and that this first step involves the Department listening to the concerns of school principals and teachers on the ground.
It is hoped that, going forward, the NCSE will agree to meet a delegation of school leaders from the county in order to collaborate on creating a more efficient and transparent system.
The meeting heard how collaboration between the NCSE and a group of principals in Dublin 15 significantly simplified the admissions process for parents of children applying to autism classes in the area.
Attendees heard how this trial in Dublin 15 demonstrated the power of collaborative partnership and it was agreed that if schools and the NCSE could unite with a shared purpose, the result would be systemic improvements that would ultimately benefit those at the heart of our education system – the children.
Political representatives present committed to doing their best to raise the concerns raised at the meeting with the Department of Education, a spokesperson for the IPPN said.