Parents and Guardians: To register for the home-based summer programme for children with complex needs, click here.
COVID-19 has presented an unprecedented global challenge for all of society, including our children. Learning has been challenging for many students since school buildings closed.
The government’s decision of 5 June, following recent public health advice, makes it possible to run summer provision for children in certain circumstances.
These summer programmes will provide children with an opportunity to continue or re-engage with learning, at school or at home.
The programmes will focus on children with complex needs, within defined categories. All programmes will run in line with public health guidance.
Detailed public health guidance is being compiled at present and will be made available before the schemes commence, to enable appropriate planning to take place.
1. School-based programme of education for children with complex needs.
2. Home-based programme for children with complex needs.
3. HSE-led summer programme for children with complex needs, based in community settings, such as school buildings.
In addition, DEIS Schools are being contacted directly in regard to schemes relevant to these schools. Schools can find guidance and expressions of interest forms here.
To ensure compliance with public health advice, numbers attending the programmes on any day and in any location will be strictly limited.
The School-based Summer Education Programme is similar to what is usually known as July Provision. The scheme is available to support certain eligible children, and takes place in the child’s school.
The absence of school and other supports has had an impact on the lives and wellbeing of many children with complex needs and their families.
Many families are reporting significant challenges caring for their children in the absence of their usual supports and routines.
- to re-establish the child’s relationships and connection with school and their peers as a basis for learning and participation
- to enable the child to re-engage in learning and social activities and help them adapt to new routines and changes in the school environment
- ensure in so far as possible that the child can reintegrate/transition into their planned education setting for the next school year with their peers
An education programme will be designed to enhance the child’s readiness for learning and ultimately reduce any regression that may have occurred.
Detailed guidance will be provided to help schools and parents to identify qualifying children.
The criteria which schools can use to select children that might benefit are:
1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism
2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties
3. Any child in a special school or a special class in a primary school
4. Children transitioning into a special class from early years settings to primary school
5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:
- children with Down syndrome
- children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing
- children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment
- children who have a moderate general learning disability
- children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties
- all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes have been invited to register for the summer school based programme. Any special school or mainstream primary school with special classes that has not received an invite to register should contact the Special Education Section by email at Schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie .
- participation is voluntary and schools may choose whether to participate
- the programme will run for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of four weeks during the July/August period
- schools will have flexibility in the timing and duration of the programme to take account of local circumstances
- schools will be able to register their interest to take part here
- participating schools will contact parents directly
- a grant towards the cost of school transport may be provided to support eligible students
- Phone: (090) 648 4187 10 am to 5pm Monday to Friday
- School Based Queries Email: Schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie
- Address: Special Education Section, Department of Education & Skills, Cornamaddy, Athlone, County Westmeath. N37 X659
The Home-based Summer Programme is similar to what is usually known as July Provision. The scheme is available to support certain eligible children, and takes place in the child’s own home.
The home-based strand will only be available where the child’s school is not running a programme or it does not have capacity to accommodate an eligible student in the planned programme.
Because there is no school based programme at post primary, the Home Based Programme is also available for eligible post primary children.
In these situations, the department funds the employment of a tutor by the parent/ guardian for up to 10 hours per week for up to 4 weeks during the summer.
The tutor must be a registered teacher or a special needs assistant (SNA). Alternatively, where a child with complex needs is unable to access a school-based programme, the HSE will provide a home support worker. Where this option is provided, there may be potential for further input from other members of the multidisciplinary disability team.
There is flexibility as to when the programme occurs. Full terms and conditions will be available for schools when registration opens here.
- to enable the child to re-engage in learning and social activities and help them adapt to new routines and changes
- to ensure in so far as possible that the child can reintegrate/ transition into their planned education setting for the next school year with their peers
The programme will be designed by the individual tutor to enhance the child’s readiness for learning and help reduce any regression that may have occurred.
The criteria which schools can use to select children that might benefit are:
1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism
2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties
3. Any child in a special school or a special class
4. Children transitioning into a special class from early years settings to primary school
5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:
- children with Down syndrome
- children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing
- children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment
- children who have a moderate general learning disability
- children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties
The Government has also approved the inclusion of children with Down Syndrome who are attending post primary school in the home-based strand of the Programme.
Children with the listed disabilities entering primary school next September are also eligible for the programme.
If you are satisfied that your child is eligible for the programme, and your school is not running a School Based Programme, you are free to engage a tutor or SNA to deliver the programme for your child/children.
Schools in your area may be able to help in identifying a suitable tutor or SNA.
- all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes have been invited to register for the summer school based programme. Any special school or mainstream primary school with special classes that has not received an invite to register should contact the Special Education Section by email at Schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie .
- the National Council for Special Education has published some useful information for parents which is available here
- participation is voluntary and schools may choose whether to participate
- the programme will run for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of four weeks during the July/August period
- schools will have flexibility in the timing and duration of the programme to take account of local circumstances
- schools will be able to register their interest to take part on this page
- participating schools will contact parents directly
- a grant towards the cost of school transport may be provided to support eligible students
- Phone: (090) 648 4187 10 am to 5pm Monday to Friday
- Home Based Queries Email: HomeBasedsummerprogram@education.gov.ie
- School Based Queries Email: Schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie
- Address: Special Education Section, Department of Education & Skills, Cornamaddy, Athlone, County Westmeath, N37 X659
Due to COVID-19, HSE services including therapeutic interventions, in-home support, day and residential respite for children with complex needs have been severely curtailed.
Subject to the availability of school premises and the availability of SNAs, the HSE will provide school based, summer camp-type supports for up to 1,200 children with complex needs.
Staff in children’s disability services will provide direction and support for SNAs to deliver activity-based “summer camps”, for a number of three-hour sessions per week.
Activities will be tailored to the needs of the children, with clinicians’ input.
- provide short respite breaks for families
- facilitate children with complex needs to begin the transition from their homes to re-engaging with their communities and schools
- provide safe opportunities for children with complex needs to engage with their peers
The capacity of children’s disability services to deliver this programme is subject to the availability of schools and the participation of SNAs who agree to work on the programme.
The timing of the programme in each area will be flexible and dictated by the availability of school premises and SNAs.
Children’s disability service managers will engage with families to identify those in most need of these supports and agree the number of sessions per week that can be provided.
To ensure compliance with public health advice, numbers attending the school-based programme on any day and in any location will be strictly limited.
Summer Provision 2020
These summer programmes will provide children with an opportunity to continue or re-engage with learning, at school or at home.
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