1. IPPN Conference 2006 Quality Leadership-Quality Learning SEN, An Eye to the Future
Don Mahon
Inspectorate
Department of Education and Science
February 2-4
CityWest Hotel, Saggart

2. SEN, An Eye to the Future
Where have we come from?
Where are we now?
Where are we going?

3. St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra 2 February 2006
Minister’s Announcement November 1998
A major initiative in special education which provides the first ever automatic supports for many children with disabilities was today announced by the Minister for Education and Science, Micheál Martin TD. The initiative in particular marks a breakthrough for integrated education and children with autism.
The measures involved, which have been approved by Government, are aimed at ensuring that all children with a special educational need, irrespective of their location or disability, will receive the support they require to participate fully in the education system.
The measures, which extend across the entire spectrum of special needs will deliver extra teaching and child care services to all special needs children, whether in groups or in individual isolated settings.
The key measures announced by the Minister include:
The introduction of a formalised system of special teaching support for all children attending schools on a fully integrated basis who have been assessed as having special educational needs.
The introduction of a formalised system of child care support for all children with special needs, including those in special schools, special classes and ordinary schools, who have been assessed as requiring such support.

4. Minister’s Announcement Nov 1998
Resource implications …..over the next year, additional
65 teacher posts
200 child care posts
£4 million in 1999
Resource implications.
Ultimately this will be determined by:
the number of special needs children presenting,
the nature of their special requirements,
whether they require placement in a special school; in a special class or in an integrated setting, and
the extent to which the school in question already has available special support services.
The exact cost of the initiatives announced today are difficult to estimate. This said, over the next year, we would envisage allocations equivalent to an additional 65 teacher posts and some 200 child care posts (almost £4 million in 1999).
Arrangements are being made to develop accurate up-to-date details on all special needs children in the system; their locations; their specific needs etc.. this data will allow for an efficient and accurate targeting of resources under the new measures.
The key points are that:
Where a child care need is identified, it will be responded to,
Where a need for special teaching support is identified, it will be responded to,
In all cases we will have the flexibility to respond on the basis of the need of the child, and
Up-to-date data will be available to the department to ensure that every special needs child is responded to.

5. Allocation Systems
Circular 08/99
Circular 08/02
Self certification
Verification
General Allocation Scheme
Individualised allocations for low-incidence special educational needs (NCSE)
Circular 02/05

6. Category of Teacher Number of Posts (Approx. figures)
Teacher posts for special educational needs in primary schools
Category of Teacher Number of
Posts (Approx.
figures)
Learning-support / resource teachers (for learning-
support, L-I and H-I special educational needs
(4682FT WTE posts)
Special class teachers
Resource teacher for Travellers posts
Visiting teachers (Trav. and SEN 40+41) 81
Total
Teachers in special schools 1,149
English language teacher posts 541
Total Teachers in National Schools 27,800
Total SNAs (incl WTE posts)
(In mainstream classes in mainstream schools › 4000)

7. Administrative Structures and Supports
National Educational Psychological Service
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
National Education Welfare Board
Local Offices of Department of Education
The Visiting Teacher Service
Programmes in Special Needs Education at National Level
School Leadership Programme
Learning-Support Guidelines + PCSP in-service programme
Special Education Support Service
School Development Planning Programme
North South Initiatives

8. National Council for Special Education

9. Legislation
Education Act, 1998
Equal Status Act, 2000
Education Welfare Act, 2000
Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004

10. Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004
Education plan
Provision of services
Assessment
Duties of principal teachers
Duties of SENO
Designation of school
Functions of NCSE
Special Education Appeals Board