Ministers Foley and Naughton announce revised assessment of need process for schools
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Minister for Education Norma Foley, TD, and Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, Hildegarde Naughton, TD, today (Monday) announced a revised assessment of need process for schools.
This revised process has been developed on foot of a recent High Court judgement which found that teachers have the appropriate expertise to be nominated by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to assess a child’s educational needs.
The overall responsibility for the assessment of needs process for children rests with the HSE and teachers’ assessments of a child’s educational needs form only one part of the process.
The revised process has been developed following a detailed review of the High Court judgement to ensure that any updated process would comply with the findings of the Court. The department and the NSCE have engaged extensively with education stakeholders to outline how the revised process can meet both the educational needs of the children concerned and the requirements to comply with the Disability Act 2005.
The department and NCSE have put in place a range of measures to support schools who are undertaking the educational component of assessment of need. This includes guidance documents and email and phone support.
In cases where schools experience a larger number of assessment of need referrals, additional assessment of need support hours will be allocated to those schools. These will be provided automatically to the schools affected each quarter in arrears.
Minister Foley said:
“My main concern as Minister is to ensure that all children, including those with special educational needs, are provided for in our schools. While responsibility for the assessment of need process lies with the HSE, the recent High Court judgement confirmed that schools have an important role to play and that teachers are appropriately qualified to assess educational needs.
“The judgement acknowledges that teachers have substantial and relevant information on children and young people in their classes. This information, derived from assessment practices and professional insights, will form part of the overall picture in relation to the child’s needs.
“There has been extensive engagement with education stakeholders in updating the revised process and I would like to encourage schools to continue to work with the Department and NCSE in completing these assessments which children are entitled to access under the Disability Act.”
Minister Naughton said:
“We know that schools are busy places. Principals and teachers work hard to meet the needs of the children and young people in their schools. What we want to do is to provide them, to the best extent possible, with the resources and supports necessary for them to continue doing this critical work.
“I’m pleased to note, therefore, that the NCSE has put in place a range of supports for schools where they receive an assessment of need request including email and phone support as well as guidance materials and access to an NCSE advisor. Where schools receive large numbers of assessment of need requests, they will also be able to avail of additional teaching hours.
“Equally, however, it’s important to ensure that we monitor the impact of this work on schools. I welcome, therefore, the department’s commitment to regularly review the assessment of need process so that we can ensure they have the appropriate and necessary supports.”