Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools

Supporting Students with Special

Educational Needs in Schools

NCSE POLICY ADVICE PAPER NO. 4

NCSE POLICY ADVICE PAPER

Supporting Students with Special

Educational Needs in Schools

May 2013

? NCSE 2013

National Council for Special Education 1?2 Mill Street Trim Co. Meath

T: 046 948 6400 F: 046 948 6404

ncse.ie

Contents

Index of Tables .......................................................................................................vi Foreword ..........................................................................................................vii Message from Sydney Blain......................................................................................ix Abbreviations......................................................................................................... x

Executive Summary.............................................................................................. 3 A new model........................................................................................ 6 Pending implementation of new model................................................. 8 Further recommendations.................................................................... 9

1

Introduction.....................................................................................15

1.1

Terms of reference............................................................................... 15

1.2

State investment................................................................................. 15

1.3

Continuum of provision.......................................................................16

1.4

NCSE policy advice...............................................................................18

1.5

Structure of paper...............................................................................19

2 2.1 2.2

2.3

2.3.1 2.3.2 2.4 2.4.1 2.4.2 2.5

2.5.1 2.5.2 2.5.3 2.5.4 2.6 2.6.1

Examination of Research and Policy Documentation............................ 23 Introduction...................................................................................... 23 Parental views on how students with special educational needs are supported in Irish schools.................................................................... 23 Assessment and identification of students with special educational needs................................................................................................ 24 Purpose of assessment for students with special educational needs.........24 Limited availability of assessments...................................................... 26 Models of resource allocation.............................................................. 26 Link between assessment of disability and allocation of resources...........27 Current resource allocation system...................................................... 30 Monitoring and measuring outcomes for students with special educational needs............................................................................... 31 Measuring outcomes: What, how, who?............................................... 31 Individual education plans (IEPs)..........................................................33 Monitoring outcomes......................................................................... 34 National database...............................................................................35 Teacher education.............................................................................. 35 Developments in teacher education in Ireland...................................... 36

Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools

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2.6.2

2.7 3 3.1 3.2 3.2.1 3.2.2 3.3 3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 3.4

3.4.1 3.4.2 3.4.3

4

4.1 4.2 4.2.1 4.2.2 4.3 4.3.1 4.3.2 4.3.3 4.4

4.4.1 4.4.2 4.4.3

Further professional development identified as required for teachers in Ireland...............................................................................37 Support staff in classrooms................................................................. 39

Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs................. 45 Introduction...................................................................................... 45 The current system of identification and assessment............................. 45 Before school..................................................................................... 45 At school ? continuum of support........................................................ 45 Review of the current system............................................................... 46 Summary of views expressed during consultation................................. 46 Strengths of the system....................................................................... 46 What changes does the system require?................................................47 NCSE policy advice: identification and assessment of special educational needs.............................................................................. 47 The EPSEN Act, 2004...........................................................................47 Why change the current model?.......................................................... 49 One national system of assessment...................................................... 51

Supports Required by Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools........................................................................................ 55 Introduction...................................................................................... 55 What supports are currently available?................................................ 55 Educational supports...........................................................................55 Health supports................................................................................. 56 Review of current supports.................................................................. 56 Summary of views expressed during consultation................................. 56 Strengths of the current system........................................................... 56 What requires to be reviewed?............................................................. 57 NCSE policy advice on supports required by students with special educational needs in schools............................................................... 60 Professional competence..................................................................... 61 Early intervention............................................................................... 64 Supports required by some children with special educational needs to access education in the school setting.............................................. 65

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Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools

5 5.1 5.2 5.2.1 5.2.2 5.2.3 5.3 5.3.1 5.3.2 5.3.3 5.4 5.4.1 5.4.2 5.5 5.5.1

5.5.2 5.5.3

5.5.4

5.5.5

5.5.6 5.5.7 5.5.8 5.5.9

Resource Allocation......................................................................... 83 Introduction...................................................................................... 83 Current model for allocating additional teaching and care supports........ 83 Allocation of additional teaching supports............................................ 83 Allocation of additional care supports.................................................. 83 Other supports................................................................................... 84 Review of the current system............................................................... 84 Summary of views expressed during the consultation process................ 84 Strengths of the current system........................................................... 84 What requires to be reviewed in the system.......................................... 85 NCSE policy advice.............................................................................. 87 Why change?......................................................................................87 Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004............. 88 Proposed new resource allocation model for mainstream classes........... 89 Essential elements required to underpin a new model of resource allocation.......................................................................................... 89 Enrolment policies and practices.......................................................... 89 Allocation and deployment of resources in mainstream schools should be in line with students' learning needs and outcomes................ 91 Robust indicators of special educational needs must be developed and agreed........................................................................................ 94 Potential risks and benefits pertaining to the introduction of the new model........................................................................................ 95 Short-term changes to strengthen and improve current system...............97 Designation of special schools as national schools............................... 102 Access to special schools and classes................................................... 103 Allocation of teaching supports to special schools and classes...............104

Appendices .................................................................................................... 109 Appendix 1 ? Setting the Scene: Historical and Current Context................................109 Appendix 2 ? The Consultation Process.................................................................. 142 Appendix 3 ? Framework for the Professional Development of Teachers....................158 Appendix 4 ? Summary of Support Needs.............................................................. 163 Appendix 5 ? List of Recommendations.................................................................165

References .....................................................................................................172

Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools

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Index of Tables

Table 1: Table 2:

Table 3: Table 4: Table 5:

Table 6: Table 7: Table 8:

Table 9: Table 10: Table 11:

Table 12: Table 13: Table 14: Table 15: Table 16: Table 17: Table 18: Table 19: Table 20: Table 21:

Expenditure on special education 2004-11.............................................16 Numbers of students in special schools and classes as % of total school population............................................................................... 17 Teaching hours allocated per category of disability................................115 Staffing ratios for each disability category............................................115 Approximate number of students for whom resource teaching hours (RTHs) were allocated to schools for low incidence disabilities for the academic year 2012-13...................................................................... 118 No of special classes for each disability category 2012?13..................... 119 Designation of special schools............................................................120 Numbers of new applications approved for assistive technology (AT) for academic year 2012-13 by disability category...................................121 Primary school capitation rates 2012.................................................. 123 Capitation expenditure...................................................................... 123 Number of students receiving transport support for academic year 2012?13.................................................................................... 124 Accommodation suites for primary and post-primary schools................ 125 Maximum grant for ancillary services.................................................. 127 Reasonable accommodation in certificate exams.................................129 Breakdown of approved funding for SESS for 2010-12........................... 135 Breakdown of funding for SESS ? 2012................................................ 135 Schools included in the DEIS scheme................................................... 136 From SERC to here .............................................................................138 Special schools by county and category...............................................138 Participants in consultation process.................................................... 157 Summary of support needs and the type of support that may be required........................................................................................... 163

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Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools

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