School Leaders Guidelines and Applications

Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

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Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

Information and guidelines on services and supports provided by NCSE

On this page, you can find information on:

– Assessment of need
– School Teacher Professional Learning Support
– Special School Curriculum Support
– Special Needs Assistant Review
– Special Education Teaching Review
– Assistive technology
– School transport
– The National Nursing Pilot Programme

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Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

Assessment of Need


The assessment of need (AON) allows parents or guardians to apply to the HSE to assess the health and education needs of a child or young person born on or after 1 June 2002.  
 
If the HSE decides that education needs may exist, they ask the NCSE to gather information from schools to help identify and describe the needs. 
 
The AON is a statutory process under the Disability Act 2005. 
 

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Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

School TPL Support

School TPL Support is Teacher Professional Learning (TPL).  
 
Our TPL aims to improve teaching practices and outcomes for students with special educational needs. 

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Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

Special School Curriculum Support

We support all special schools with the enactment (gradual introduction) of the redeveloped Primary School Curriculum at national level. 
 

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Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

Irish Sign Language Advisor Support

If your schools has students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and who use ISL, you can apply for our ISL Advisor service.  
 
This support can help you to build whole‑school confidence and capacity in ISL so students can access learning. 
 

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Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

SNA Review

An SNA Review is a formal process of reviewing SNA allocations in schools.  
There are two types of SNA Reviews:  

– The school can request it during the application window  
– The NCSE can lead the review

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Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

SNA Appeal

With an SNA Appeal, a school can formally challenge the decision of an SNA Review. 
 

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Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

SET Review


If a school is clearly unable to meet the needs of the full group of children and young people, a SET review can take place.   
 
This process is used when unique circumstances may present in a school which could require an urgent review. These circumstances must have had a significant impact on the school.  

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Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

Assistive Technology

You can apply to the NCSE for assistive technology applications for eligible students.  
We will review the application and make a recommendation. We then send it to the Department of Education and Youth for a decision. 
 

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Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

School Transport

We process applications for school transport for students with special educational needs. 

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Guidelines and Applications for School Leaders

National Nursing Programme Pilot for Children with Complex Healthcare Needs


This pilot scheme supports schools and families to ensure children with complex healthcare needs can access nursing care during the school day. 
 
We co-ordinate the pilot with the HSE. Our role is to manage applications and confirm eligibility.