New special needs classes welcomed

The announcement that 91 classes for children with special needs are to be introduced to schools next month has been welcomed by disability groups.

The classes will cater for more than 500 children with special needs in 88 mainstream primary and secondary schools, according to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The council also provides for special needs units at pre-school level.

Last year, just 33 new classes were established by the NCSE.

Inclusion Ireland has particularly welcomed the fact that the new classes will not be confined to primary schools.

“We are also pleased to see the investment at pre-school level, as international best practice will show you that early intervention is best,” said spokeswoman Siobhán Kane.

Classes are provided for children with significant needs who cannot be educated in a mainstream class setting, such as those with autism or a specific speech and language disorder. These classes have lower pupil-teacher ratios than mainstream classes, ranging from one teacher to six pupils to one teacher to 11.

However, while welcoming the announcement, Shine Ireland chief executive Kieran Kennedy said the department was “still playing catch-up” and that the standard of teacher training in these units was widely perceived as sub-standard.

“Why is the department continuing to cut SNA positions from regular classes and at the same time announcing special units being set up? Both problem areas need to be addressed.”

NCSE chief executive Teresa Griffin said: “The NCSE, through its national network of special educational needs organisers, has sanctioned these classes as part of its annual allocation of supports to schools.”

The county by county breakdown is on the NCSE website,www.ncse.ie