Special school admission policies preventing children most in need from access, inspectorate finds 

These 'unacceptable practices' remain despite the inspectorate, the Department of Education, and the minister for education raising concerns last year. File picture

Many admission policies for special classes continue to contain clauses preventing autistic children with the greatest level of need from accessing school places, the department of education's inspectorate has warned.

Examples of these clauses, including referring to a prospective students’ potential behaviour, or asking parents to provide information or undertake steps beyond those required of others, were found in half of a sample of 30 admission policies reviewed by the inspectorate.

Another example were requirements that students demonstrate an ability to participate in mainstream classes to be considered for admission in a special class.

These “unacceptable practices” remain despite the inspectorate, the Department of Education, and the minister for education raising concerns last year, with the minister writing to all schools in 2025 asking them to review their admissions policies.

This week, education minister Hildegarde Naughton said she was “deeply disappointed” that despite clear guidance, half of the schools examined by the inspectorate have admission policies in place containing clauses that may unfairly restrict access to special class placements.

“This is not acceptable,” she said. 

“I am calling on every patron body and every board of management to review their admissions policies and to immediately remove, without delay, any provision that could create a barrier to enrolment for an autistic child who otherwise meets the eligibility criteria set out by my department.

“Parents must be confident that admission policies are fair, transparent, and fully compliant with national requirements.” 

Last year, the inspectorate first raised the alarm over “concerning” admission policies that have the power to prevent children with the greatest level of need from accessing places in special classes.

The 2026 review found half of the reviewed admission policies of schools with special classes still contained such clauses.  This included six primary schools and nine post-primary schools.

The most prevalent conditional clause found by the inspectorate referred to prospective students’ potential behaviour.

While some autistic children may experience dysregulation which can impact on behaviour, it is not appropriate to use potential behaviour as a ground for refusing a place in a special class.

The Department of Education said it takes “very seriously” any admission policy that has the effect of restricting or discouraging access to specialist education placements.

It is now writing directly to boards of management of the 15 schools concerned requesting the immediate removal of the relevant clauses from their admission policies. 

Copies of these letters will also issue to the relevant patron bodies also in recognition of their statutory role in approving school admission policies.

Minister of state for special education Michael Moynihan said the findings of this report "are an important reminder that some schools still have work to do to ensure they don’t have barriers in place that mean autistic students are being excluded". 

• Jess Casey is Education Correspondent.