Rose Conway-Walsh presses for Level 2 support in mainstream schools

Rose Conway-Walsh raised concerns after meetings with special needs coordinators in Mayo about access to the junior cycle Level 2 Learning Programme (L2LP) and Level 1 (L1LP) for students with mild to moderate learning difficulties. She urged examination of training gaps for mainstream teachers and called for specific teaching hours to be allocated so these students can access the curriculum within mainstream classes.

Issues raised by coordinators

Rose Conway-Walsh reported two serious issues highlighted by special needs coordinators in Mayo: students with mild to moderate learning difficulties accessing the junior cycle L2LP, and the absence of allocated teaching hours for mainstream classes to support those students.

Training gap for mainstream teachers

She said the National Council for Special Education, operating under the Department of Education, does not provide training in the Level 2 Learning Programme to all mainstream teachers. Those students require specialised special education needs teaching that, she argued, is not currently being delivered to all staff in mainstream settings.

Allocation of teaching hours

Conway-Walsh emphasised that the Department does not allocate specific teaching hours to school management to enable students to access their curriculum within mainstream classes. She argued these hours should be separate from existing SEN hours or added to SEN hours under L2LP teaching, and that it is essential schools receive hours for students accessing both L2LP and L1LP.

Requests to committees and follow-up

She asked whether the committee and the Cabinet Committee will examine and address these issues and stated she will follow up on the matter. Her remarks concluded with a repeated commitment to follow up and a formal closing to the speaker addressed as "Dr.".