Inspections find quarter of schools missing support plans for special needs pupils

Just over three-quarters (76%) of the schools inspected were found to have student support plans in place for all selected students. File photo

School inspectors have highlighted concerns regarding the quality and appropriateness of learning targets included in a significant number of support files for students with special educational needs.

It follows the publication this week by the Department of Education of a report based on the outcomes of 100 unannounced inspections of primary, post-primary and special schools last September and October.

In each school, inspectors also checked the support files of four randomly selected students with special educational needs.

These support files should include a student support plan, which acts as an individualised learning plan to ensure students receive support, interventions and opportunities. 

According to the Inspectorate, progress of each students’ learning targets should be monitored and reviewed at regular intervals. Students' progress should also be documented clearly and used to inform the next stage of teaching and learning. 

Individualised targets should be set for literacy, numeracy, language and communication as well as for a student’s development.

Inspection findings

Just over three-quarters (76%) of the schools inspected were found to have student support plans in place for all selected students.

A further 16% of inspected schools had support files for some of the selected children, but not for all, while a further eight schools (8%) had no student support file in place for any student.

In schools where student support files were in place, inspectors found that learning targets were appropriately individualised and meaningful in just under 30% of these schools.

Inspectors found these targets were not individualised or meaningful in almost one-fifth of the schools and there was “scope to improve" the learning targets in more than half (52.2%) of the schools.

Chief inspector Yvonne Keating said the report acknowledges the good practice in many primary, post-primary and special schools. 

"The efforts made by teachers to develop student support files, incorporate updated, meaningful and individualised targets are particularly encouraging." 

Room for improvement

However, it also highlights scope for improvement in some important areas, she added. 

"These include the requirement to maintain a student support file for all children and young people receiving support to ensure that learning targets are individualised and meaningful." 

Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton said keeping student support files accurate and actively reviewed is a "fundamental responsibility".

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"Without up-to-date support plans and records, schools cannot fully understand how a student is progressing, what barriers they may be experiencing or how supports should be adapted to meet their changing needs."

“I am calling on all schools and teachers to prioritise this work consistently," she added. 

"Every child deserves to have their needs clearly identified, their progress carefully monitored and their supports regularly reviewed. Up-to-date student support files are central to achieving this and are critical to delivering inclusive, responsive and effective education for all." 

• Jess Casey is education correspondent for the Irish Examiner