Pilot scheme for resource teachers

Children with disabilities and their schools could be forced to continue with reduced support while they wait another two years for automatic access to special teachers.

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan is expected to announce details this week of a pilot scheme in 50 schools to see how a planned new model for allocating special education teachers to schools would work.

The principles set to underpin the new system were set out last June by her predecessor, Ruairi Quinn, and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). Each school would have a pre-determined number of extra teachers to cater for children with a range of special needs, eliminating the current requirement for those with disabilities to have professional assessments before supports are given to their schools.