Group unhappy with proposed Down Syndrome support

The general allocation model provides learning support teachers for an estimated 66,000 pupils, while around 21,400 primary and 9,800 second-level pupils receive resource teaching sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education based on professional assessments of a range of more complex needs.

The NCSE said there needs to be more focus on the outcomes from the resources and closer monitoring of how children are progressing. However, it said concerns about the delays faced by many parents getting the assessments needed for their children to be sanctioned for additional supports was key in recommending a change to the current system.

Down Syndrome Ireland expressed disappointment with a recommendation that children with Down’s syndrome who have a mild general learning disability should not be automatically entitled to guaranteed resource teaching. Instead, the NCSE said, schools should be reminded that their general allocation of additional teaching supports be used to support children in line with their needs.

DSI chief executive Pat Clarke said the 24 children in this situation who start school each year do not have the time it will take for further reports or research on this issue and DSI will be appealing to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, saying they are adversely affected by not qualifying for vital resource hours in speech and language therapy that other children without Down’s syndrome are entitled to.

While there was a recognition that most parents are satisfied with the support in schools for pupils with special educational needs, the NCSE found that some schools create barriers to their inclusion, by referring children to other schools or having policies that overtly block their enrolment.

The review also said the Department of Education should review the time spent by teachers travelling between schools that share resource teachers.