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STUDENTS WHO ATTEND special education classes in mainstream schools returned to school buildings today, as part of the Government’s plan for a phased reopening.
The Government has prioritised children with additional educational needs in the reopening of schools during February, March and April.
10 days ago, 124 special schools reopened at 50% capacity, with students attending for two or three instead of five days a week.
Today, special classes in mainstream schools, including thousands of primary and post-primary schools, reopened for students – but not all students returned to classes.
Although Lorraine Dempsey, interim CEO of Inclusion Ireland, welcomed the reopening, she said it was a “mixed day for families”.
“Today is a very important and positive day for many children with additional educational needs returning to school, and there is a sense of relief among children and parents – but also a strong desire to get back to full provision as soon as possible.
“While many children are delighted to be back in school as part of the partial re-opening, for others the part-time schedule is causing further difficulties around routine.
“We’re also very aware today of thousands of children with additional needs who attend mainstream classes, and their families, are looking on enviously. The majority of these children remain unable to access appropriate educational supports.”
Some parents have raised concerns about the educational provisions for their children in the reopening plan – such as not being able to accept teachers attending their homes to teach their child due to fears around Covid-19.
“It is a mixed day for families,” Dempsey said. “There is progress for some, and others remain locked out of education. We need to see continued progress. Attention seems to have turned to the full re-opening of schools, despite previous commitments that students with additional needs would be prioritised.
“It’s not clear where they fall on the Government’s agenda now, and we need urgent clarity on that,” she said.
There are 1,231 special classes at primary level catering for 7,520 students. They are supported by 3,819 teachers and SNAs.
There are 515 special classes at post primary catering for 2,808 students. They are supported by 1,739 teachers and SNAs.
The government’s plan
The Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 is meeting this evening to discuss the Government’s reopening plan over the next month, which will be revealed tomorrow.
It’s been well-flagged that nothing other than schools will be reopened during the month of March; Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman has said that junior and senior infants, and students in first and second class would return to school first.
Leaving Cert students would also be prioritised in the return to school.
The two-week Easter school break begins from 29 March, which has prompted some calls from parents to shorten this break in order to make up for time in school that students have missed out on.
The rest of the Government’s reopening plan greatly depends on the level of transmission there is when schools reopen.
If it rises to a level that health experts decide is too risky to reopen other parts of society, such as shops or by allowing people to meet, there may be no further easing of restrictions until significant parts of the population are vaccinated.
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This is one thing I do agree with, I know, shocking.
Schools should be open for atleast the bare minimum for students in vulnerable situations and special needs.
For alot of children, school is a respite and safe space to escape a horrible home environment. It is a place where teachers, parents, principals other school children can spot early signs of abuse, this is so important for early intervention.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Long overdue
@Ally Mc Culladgh: over crowded buses etc. Time will tell.
@Togs: Early intervention in terms of saving a child from an abusive situation Principal, teacher, makes contact with Tusla, they determine what to do depeding on the gravity of the situation
TUSLA can go to court to get an emergency care order and remove the child and place into care, can be with grandparent or other family member.
This doesn’t take years.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: 1/5 students have Additional Educational Needs. Who decides which students are in a “vulnerable” situation and how exactly is that explained to families?
@Graham Manning: Hi Graham, I don’t know who should decide, but maybe the kid decides for themselves, if they feel safer at school and it is a respite for them. Domestic abuse is on the rise during the pandemic, children are part of those households, maybe the partner wants to send the children to school also.
It is a complicated situation, there is no easy answer, teachers are also parents too and they should feel safe aswell
A teacher crammed into a class of 30 puplils for hours on end with less than ideal social distancing, with the only ventilation coming from some open windows, is not great
But at the same time I want schools to be opened for some students.
As a by the way, I do respect your opinions when it comes to Education/Teachers etc, I value your opinon
@Ally Mc Culladgh: thanks for the break down on how things should work with an abused child Ally.. But you’re the one who mentioned children with special needs getting “early intervention”.. That is so far from what actually happens.. I appreciate you like most people prob don’t have any experience in the field.. Which is why it continues to be a a complete joke in this country.. Theres not enough votes to be won by helping people in the special needs community… Not enough people actually care enough to change the way things are.. If any other demographic of society was discriminated against like people with additional requirements are, It would be rectified on the double.. But with that particular community its accepted that they’re descrimated against..
@Togs: I meant early intervention in terms of spotting signs of abuse.
@Togs: As for children with special needs, there are kids that have to start school later in years because there is no place for them in a school. 10000% agree with you how services are so so poor for those with special needs, delaying their education will have a knock on effect later on in their life, we are hampering them from developing and with that comes loss of opportunities.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Hi Ally, you’re far too polite for here.
If all AEN students came back thats 1/5 of the school population across all years. Feasibility-wise in terms of staff, laptops and continuance of online remote learning for those not in school I can’t see how it would work.
Given the vast majority of students are under 18 the decision on their return, if not a Dept one, would have to be their parents. & if open to all it would involve too much initial movement & people in the building for a phased return. Identifying students “at risk” just has too many pitfalls to work in reality.
Your concerns are perfectly valid I just don’t see a mechanism to address them.
Ur description of classrooms is unavoidable unfortunately. A consequence of decades & continuing underinvestment.
“Some” students enrolled in special classes returned today. Plenty chose not to. Also children in special classes can and very often do attend mainstream class as well. Any idea why the ministers and Depts plan for the reopening of schools to students in special classes wasn’t published and the version schools got had “confidential” and “draft” plastered across it? Could it be the gaping holes in it? It talks of SNA subs when unicorns are more plentiful. If I’m absent any teacher covering me only does so on a “voluntary” basis and can refuse, why? Where are all the laptops to ensure students don’t miss out on their mainstream still online classes? How does 50% school transport work? Anyone wanna sort out ventilation beyond open the windows and doors in frickin February???
@Graham Manning: It sounds like you’re speaking with knowledge of the field. I’m just a 6th year parent but the situation you’re describing is entirely unsurprising. I had naively hoped that Norma might have taken steps to make schools safer by defining close contacts in the same way as they do for the general public, not hiding cases from other students and parents and maybe even defining school transmission as school transmission so that we can regularly review safety levels with accurate data but I’ve no doubt it’ll be a case of cram them all back into crowded, freezing classrooms, fudge the data, keep declaring schools as a safe environment and hope for the best. This government can’t end soon enough.
@Declan Doherty: hi Declan. I am a bit. I coordinate 3 secondary ASD special classes. Started back today. We’re going back to the exact same situation as pre Xmas just with additional fairy tale ridden plans.
@Graham Manning: as for the twenty hour home tuition programme for kids with special needs.. More government pie in the sky. Can only be done weekends and evenings and SNA’S being offered less than seventeen quid an hour before tax. Yet we throw millions at fee paying schools..
@Valthebear: yup, the list is endless and fee paying schools shouldn’t get a cent from the gov.
I am an essential service employee. I work with 80 people with no social distancing and no one has contracted Covid to date. My colleagues sit approximately 2 feet each side of me. We don’t complain or refuse to go into our work place ….its simply not an option as a large amount sick people rely on me …..looking forward to the schools reopening.
@NeddyQ: definition if a close contact is different in your profession, unless of course you work in education?
@Anú Ní Shúilleabháin: I was told if my colleague is positive and I test negative, i am expected to return to work the next day …..
@NeddyQ: yes I suppose that is right? But I know in a classroom if a child tests positive neither the teacher nor the SNA (!) are considered close contacts and are not even sent for testing. The child stays off school obviously but siblings of the child may remain at school if they aren’t showing symptoms (despite the fact they could be asymptomatic covid). I believe children should return to school but having a different close contact rule for one set of workers flies in the face of logic.
@NeddyQ: large amounts of essential workers also need the schools open for childcare reasons. In a household with 2 essential workers, it would ease the burden considerably if they were opened , like they are in other countries.
it was great seen the kids go into class….I wish them all the best..
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