Special needs assistants to take on new roles under reform plan

The Government has insisted that a major overhaul of the special needs assistant (SNA) scheme in schools will improve outcomes for young people and is not aimed at cutting costs.

Almost 35,000 students with additional care needs, such as autism, are supported by more than 14,000 SNAs to attend school each day.

A review of the scheme by the National Council for Special Education has found that, while it works well for some pupils, "radical changes" are needed to improve outcomes for students.

This involves broadening the current role of SNAs – currently confined to care needs such as toileting, mobility and feeding – to help assist with the delivery of speech and language or occupational therapy.

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It says qualifications required to become an SNA should rise, while existing staff should receive additional training.

SNAs will also be renamed “inclusion support assistants” to reflect their focus on developing students’ independence.

There are also plans to provide in-school therapy, such as speech and language and occupational therapy, through pilot projects which will later be expanded across the State.

Escalating costs

The Department of Public Expenditure has previously expressed concern over “rapidly escalating” costs which have jumped by more than a third in the past five years to half a billion euro.

However, Minister for Education Richard Bruton said the changes were not about saving money.

“This is about ensuring the investment we make in children with special educational needs has the best impact,” he said.

Mr Bruton said the report made it clear the State’s current response to meeting the needs of students with additional care needs should be broadened to offer a more comprehensive and tailored response.

“My department will now begin to develop proposals to implement the recommendations of the comprehensive review of the SNA scheme,” he said.

He said it would take a “number of years” to implement and that the Government was committed in the meantime to ensuring the needs of all children were met.

Among the council’s key recommendation include:

Frontloading SNA support so the majority of posts are allocated ahead of time, removing the need for assessments and allowing for earlier intervention.

Boosting access to a greater range of supports and making expertise available in regional teams to support schools. This will include 10 regional teams with 230 specialist teachers, therapists, special educational needs organisers and behavioural practitioners who will work directly with schools and students.

Training and upskilling for SNAs as well as teachers and the wider school community.

Students to have access to support without the need for diagnosis of a disability.

The council estimates the changes would cost an additional €40 million a year, and says they should be phased in over time.

The proposed changes follow an 18-month review of the scheme, along with consultation with schools, parents, policy-makers and students.