NCSE publishes landmark policy advice paper on special schools and classes

Significant recommendations highlighting:

 16 January 2024: The National Council for Special Education has today published its policy advice paper on special schools and classes entitled “An Inclusive education for an Inclusive society”. This follows a request in October 2018, by the then Minister for Education and Skills to advise on the educational provision for students in special schools and classes and to make recommendations on the future provision required to enable them to achieve better outcomes. The NCSE policy advice sought to consider how existing good practices could be incorporated and further developed in the design of an inclusive education system where children have the opportunity to learn in their local school with their siblings and peers.

The policy paper recommends the phased development of the progressive realisation of an inclusive education system for Ireland. It is envisaged that this system will be informed by, and aligned to, the relevant articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which Ireland ratified in 2018.   The advice recommends a phased transition with incremental changes taking place over many years with special schools and classes remaining an important placement option for students and parents. The advice recommends that the Department of Education and the NCSE should seek the evolution of an education system that is configured specifically for the Irish context. This emerging system should have regard to existing good practices in the education system and the boosting of current resourcing with significant increases in psychological and therapeutic supports.

CEO of the NCSE John Kearney emphasised: “The aim of this advice is to improve the educational and lifetime outcomes for all students. Student outcomes are enabled with a greater availability of therapeutic and psychological supports within schools. Student learning experiences are enriched with enhanced teacher professional learning and improvements to schools buildings. NCSE will work with all agencies to resolve issues where students have to travel long distances to be educated outside of their local community. NCSE will support school leaders with the guidance they require to embed inclusive practices for all their students. NCSE recognises that there will be significant challenges in achieving the ambitious goals of this policy advice in enhancing outcomes for students.”

The advice is informed by extensive research, consultation and an examination of similar international education systems. Pathways to post school life options for students with special education needs were also analysed.

The policy advice has seven core recommendations:

There is a strong base from which to develop an inclusive education system in Ireland with investment in special education amounting to €2.6 billion per year.

The NCSE duly welcomes that the Department of Education has already successfully applied to the European Commission’s DG Reform Office Technical Support Instrument (TSI).  The assistance of the TSI will ensure that the range of reforms required to design and develop a model of Inclusion for the Irish education system will be informed by International best practice and the experience of other jurisdictions.

A copy of the full report, supporting material and recommendations can be accessed here https://ncse.ie/policy-advice

ENDS