Concerns mount over ‘gaps’ in new rules for use of restraint against children in schools
Ombudsman for Children ‘deeply concerned’ about lack of independent monitoring and inspection of practice in new guidance
National Council for Special Education
Use of seclusion banned in schools for pupils with challenging behaviour
Physical restraint only be permitted in ‘crisis’ situations where there is risk to students and staff
Autism: Why are so many children being diagnosed these days?
As many as one in 20 schoolchildren in Ireland may have autism or similar developmental issues, studies suggest
Sharp increase in autism diagnoses to require thousands of additional special needs places in schools
Official estimates point to a near doubling in proportion of children with autism in need of support at school within five years
Single-school enrolment system planned for children with special needs
New approach aims to end practice of parents having to apply to dozens of schools to find appropriate places
Child with autism refused place by 19 schools
Government accused of failing to uphold right to education for children with additional needs
School therapy supports to be restored in special schools in September
Therapists will be based in 16 special schools as part of new pilot project
A new report recommends phasing out special education. Is this the right approach?
The NCSE recently recommended that all students with special needs ‘should be educated in mainstream schools’. Two parents debate the implications
All special needs students ‘should be educated in mainstream schools’, council recommends
National Council for Special Education urges move towards ‘fully inclusive’ schools for all pupils over the coming years
Four new special schools to be set up in Limerick, Meath, Wexford and Kildare in response to rising demand
Local areas could not meet demand among students with complex needs by expanding existing schools
Several private schools to provide special classes in drive to become ‘truly inclusive’
Spiritans say new special school in south Dublin forms part of congregation’s ‘mission for the future’
New special school opens in south Dublin: ‘It’s very emotional. We never thought it would happen’
South Dublin is traditionally underserved by special education. It may be the first of several to be established on the grounds of prestigious Spiritan-run schools
Two new special schools to be established in Cork and Dublin
Extra capacity for 11 schools and hundreds more special classes to be added in mainstream system
Authorities scramble to open new special-needs classes and schools for 100 children
New places will open as soon as possible, says Josepha Madigan
Up to 80 children with special needs in Dublin without school places
Taoiseach apologises to family without appropriate education for seven years
Taoiseach apologises in Dáil to Milne family over State failure
Parents unable to place twins in special school despite autism and learning difficulties
Schools may be forced to open places for special needs children – Madigan
‘No other option’ but to take ‘substantive action’, says Minister of State for Special Education
‘Serious upskilling is required’: Schools adjust to rapid growth in special classes
The number of pupils in such classes is up 400% in a decade, but training lags behind
DLD: The most common childhood disorder you’ve probably never heard of?
Irish study aims to improve diagnosis of developmental language disorder using an app
Crisis in recruitment and retention of school principals will only worsen
Responsible for everything from drains to contact tracing, why would anyone want to be a principal?
Languages to be introduced to primary schools on pilot basis
Pupils in more than 100 schools to learn foreign languages from third class
Expanded summer ‘catch-up’ programme to support up to 81,000 vulnerable children
Ministers announce €40m supports for pupils with special needs or at risk of disadvantage
Covid catch-up classes: ‘The chequebook must be opened to make this happen’
Ambitious education programme vital to support pupils with special needs – AsIAm
Court orders reconsideration of refusal to provide school transport to boy with autism
Judge says decisions by appeal board were ‘set at nought’ if it announced them without adequately explaining how they were reached
New special school to be established next year in south Dublin
The move aims to address an acute shortage of appropriate school places in the area
More south Dublin primary schools agree to open classes for special needs pupils
About 30 children who do not have a school place will be able to join mainstream schools
Nearly half of complaints to children’s ombudsman concern education
Office concerned over ‘slow pace of change’ around young people’s mental health
Autism provision is blocked by lack of partnership and investment
Everyone agrees that children with autism have a right to education. Underfunded, overcrowded schools need significant investment to provide it
Schools in affluent areas of south Dublin resisting special classes, say campaigners
Department of Education compels 39 schools in area to open classes for children with autism
Resistance to special classes risks creating ‘segregated’ school system
Department of Education inspectors find many schools use restrictive enrolment
Teenager with special needs challenges his explusion
Boy allegedly hit one of the teachers in his secondary school with a brush lastyear
Government shelves controversial changes to SNA supports for schoolchildren
Support groups had opposed move over fears it would dilute support for vulnerable pupils
Girls and autism: Why are so many going undiagnosed?
Research suggests disorder often manifests differently in girls with many missing out on vital support
Q&A: Will pupils lose out in changes to how special needs assistants are allocated?
Concern among groups over ‘rushed’ and ‘partial delivery’ of planned changes
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