Cork special school shuts to work through 'issues' including dysregulation of students and injuries to staff

School to reopen on Monday, March 9, after closing last Friday following incident during which staff members were injured

Carrigaline Community Special School has been closed since Friday morning following an incident at the school last Thursday during which staff members were injured. Picture: Chani Anderson

A special school in Cork, previously highlighted for its suspensions crisis, has closed to “work through a number of issues” including dysregulation among pupils and injuries sustained by staff.

Carrigaline Community Special School, a school for students with a dual diagnosis of autism and an intellectual disability, has been closed since Friday morning following an incident at the school last Thursday during which staff members were injured. 

A number of parents at the school spoke to the Irish Examiner last year about concerns around a lack of consistency for students, as well as a limited access to vital therapies. They said this created high levels of anxiety and dysregulation, leaving some students distressed. 

The school, which is under the patronage of Cork Education and Training Board (ETB), has remained closed since Friday morning following the incident.

In a letter to parents seen by the Irish Examiner, Cork ETB director of schools Pat McKelvey said the school plans to reopen on Monday, March 9. “In recent months, the school has experienced a significant increase in injuries to staff which have occurred where children have become dysregulated.” 

He added: “We absolutely understand that these behaviours are outside the control of the children. However, the resultant injuries have had a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of staff resulting in the requirement for a high level of staff injury leave in the school.

“We want to reassure you that the first priority of staff has always been to ensure that no child is injured due to the dysregulation of another child. As an employer, we have a duty of care to staff in the school to ensure a safe working environment, and we have a duty of care to all students in the school, to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

“We also need to ensure that [Carrigaline Community Special School] is a positive learning environment for all our students.” 

Mr McKelvey said the school will be working with staff this week to review its processes for addressing behaviours of concern in the school. 

“As part of this process, we are updating the individual student behaviour support plan for each student.”

He said Cork ETB is working with the HSE’s Children’s Disability Network Team and “where appropriate” Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) to ensure it is “doing everything possible to meet the needs of children who find it difficult to regulate in school”.

“As part of our review, we will be looking to intensify our co-operation with these agencies and the support that we are receiving in managing behaviours of concern.”

A spokesperson for Cork ETB said it does not comment on individual school matters or incidents involving students or staff.  "Cork ETB has introduced a number of measures in particular to support the in-school leadership team in the school and will continue to work with the Department of Education and Youth and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to consider what additional supports may be necessary to support the school." 

The spokesperson added: "Due to the sensitive nature of the situation, and out of respect for the privacy and wellbeing of those involved, we will not be providing further detail at this time." 

It  is "fully committed to ensuring the highest possible standards of safety, care, and support across all our schools and centres". 

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said it is aware of an incident at the school last Thursday but does not comment on individual cases. The department and the NCSE is in "continuing engagement" with Cork ETB since the incident last week and "this builds on close engagement over recent months on a range of measures to support the school", they added. 

The school will be availing of further whole-school training with the NCSE in the next number of weeks.  It has been granted an additional supernumerary teacher and an additional special needs assistant (SNA) based on identified needs in the school. 

"An additional teaching post and two SNA posts to support the school is also being sanctioned for the remainder of this school year. These additional staff will assist with providing a consistent staffing in the school in the event of any staff absences."