Parents and teachers of special needs pupils look to meet Quinn

Parents and teachers want to meet Education Minister Ruairi Quinn over concerns about how special needs assistants (SNAs) are allocated to pupils with care needs.

The Special Needs Parents Association (SNPA) is particularly concerned that a circular governing the operation of the SNA scheme, sent to schools by his department last month, could mean children with behaviour-related care needs must wait until all other interventions are tried in schools before SNA support is provided.

SNPA chairperson Lorraine Dempsey said a detailed description of how the system works has long been needed, but the circular deviates from existing policies, which is why clarity is being sought from Mr Quinn. “It has been issued without reference to the larger class sizes we have to deal with, and lack of other services from the HSE to assist what goes on in schools.”