'The State will be failing her': Parents wrote to Government over 'deeply distressing' SNA cuts

Correspondence followed a controversy in February over possible reductions in special needs assistant supports in schools countrywide.

Parents of children with autism, epilepsy, and severe anxiety begged the Department of Education not to strip away classroom supports they said were essential to keep their sons and daughters in school.

The department received more than 150 messages from families, special needs assistants (SNAs), and school staff warning of how vulnerable children would be left distressed and excluded.

One parent said their autistic daughter could only remain in a mainstream school with SNA support, writing: “The State will be failing her.” 

An SNA said the complex needs of students did not vanish just because of a review process.

They said: “Many pupils require consistent support for emotional regulation, behavioural challenges, social interaction, and access to learning.

“These needs are real, persistent, and do not disappear simply because a review has taken place.” 

The parent of a non-verbal autistic boy said their child would struggle in a mainstream school without assistance.

“Because of this [support, he] is not only accepted in school but genuinely included, understood, and supported,” they said.

The SNA team is the main source of daily assistance that enables him to access education, participate in school life, and make meaningful progress.

The worried parent said the thought of losing that support was “deeply distressing.” 

The correspondence followed a controversy in February over possible reductions in special needs assistant supports in schools countrywide.

One SNA, who said they had lost their position, said the removal of three support staff had a “devastating impact".

Their message said: “To lose my role not because the need is gone, but because of cuts, is heartbreaking.

“It is even harder knowing that children who genuinely need support will now receive less of it.” 

Another email complained of what they said was a superficial analysis of the needs of an individual school that was about to lose four staff.

“This decision was based on three inspectors spending an hour and a half in the school without speaking to any of the SNAs,” they wrote.

One special needs assistant wrote that their role was not just to support some students but every child in a class.

"To a lot of children I am their safe space, they are comfortable talking to me. I am not only there for the children I am assigned to but for all of the children,” their message said.

I might be the only person that listens to them because unfortunately not every child comes from a safe or happy home.

Another wrote of a school with 164 pupils that would be left with just a single SNA if their post was cut.

An email said: “This includes children with significant medical and care needs, including a child with chronic asthma, epilepsy, and other complex needs.

“From a health and safety perspective, this is deeply concerning and, in my view, unsustainable.” 

Asked about the records, a department spokesperson said ministers had listened to concerns and it had been agreed there would be no reductions in special needs assistants[/url[ for the coming school year.

They said all schools reviewed by the NCSE [National Council for Special Education] and allocated additional resources would still receive them.

The spokesperson said the NCSE review was a “robust process” based on the care needs of individual schools and no SNAs would be relocated in the upcoming school year.