Brendan Smith urges review of special class size for rural schools
Brendan Smith welcomed the approval of more special classes for the coming school year and called for a review of the primary-level enrolment threshold of six pupils per special class. He argued the threshold disadvantages smaller rural schools and can force children with additional needs to travel long distances and miss attending the same school as their siblings.
He highlighted that the current threshold for pupil enrolment in primary-level special classes is six, and said this mitigates against smaller rural schools where reaching that number may be difficult.
He warned that children with additional needs should not have to travel undue long distances for an appropriate class and noted the added challenge when such children cannot attend the same school as their siblings.
He emphasised that a large percentage of primary schools under the patronage of smaller Protestant churches have small enrolments and should not be disadvantaged in the approval and establishment of special classes.
He welcomed the commitment of the minister and the NCSE and urged a review of class-size rules. He suggested designing rural models, possibly involving clusters or a support base, and said he would raise the matter with the Minister for Education and the minister with responsibility for special education.
In response, the Taoiseach noted the ratio of six was introduced in 1998 and pointed to the growth in special needs assistants, citing 23,000 SNAs now in schools. He said the issue is forming part of ongoing discussions and forward planning with officials and the National Council for Special Education.
Class-size threshold
He highlighted that the current threshold for pupil enrolment in primary-level special classes is six, and said this mitigates against smaller rural schools where reaching that number may be difficult.
Impact on families and access
He warned that children with additional needs should not have to travel undue long distances for an appropriate class and noted the added challenge when such children cannot attend the same school as their siblings.
Patronage and small schools
He emphasised that a large percentage of primary schools under the patronage of smaller Protestant churches have small enrolments and should not be disadvantaged in the approval and establishment of special classes.
Proposed solutions and next steps
He welcomed the commitment of the minister and the NCSE and urged a review of class-size rules. He suggested designing rural models, possibly involving clusters or a support base, and said he would raise the matter with the Minister for Education and the minister with responsibility for special education.
Official context and staffing figures
In response, the Taoiseach noted the ratio of six was introduced in 1998 and pointed to the growth in special needs assistants, citing 23,000 SNAs now in schools. He said the issue is forming part of ongoing discussions and forward planning with officials and the National Council for Special Education.
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Transcript
I welcome the approval of more special classes for the coming school year and I recognise the commitment of Minister Minaghan, Minister McEntee and the NCSE to build further on the progress made to date. We still need more investment in special education. One particular aspect of the approval of special classes that I wish to see reviewed is class size. At present the threshold for pupil enrolment for such classes at primary level is six. This mitigates against the smaller rural schools where the threshold of six pupils with additional needs may be difficult to achieve. Children with additional needs and needing placement in a special class should not have to travel undue long distances for an appropriate class. Those children also have less chance of attending the same school as their siblings which adds to the challenges facing their families. I am also, Taoiseach, very conscious that a large percentage of primary schools under the patronage of the smaller churches, the Protestant churches, have small enrolments and should not be disadvantaged in the approval and establishment of special classes. Thank you Deputy. That is a very interesting point you will raise. It was I who introduced the ratio of six in the special class back in 1998 when we took a very significant decision in a government member at that stage with the two SNAs and a teacher. It is a fair point in terms of rural models or a model for schools which would be quite low in numbers. I will talk to the Minister for Education, Helen McEntee and I will talk to Minister Michael Minan with the responsibility for special ed to see if a model can be designed with smaller rural schools, perhaps in a cluster, a support base could be organised and I certainly will look at that. We have had an exponential growth in SNAs since then, 23,000 special needs assistants in our schools now. I think the point is well made and I understand that it is forming part of ongoing discussions, forward planning with officials in the Department of Education and indeed the National Council for Special Education.