Circular 80/2024: Forward Planning for Special Education Provision

Circular 80/2024 was released yesterday. You can read it in full here:https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/f16ca-new-measures-to-support-the-forward-planning-for-special-education-provision/

The focus is on special classes, and particular Autism classes with some significant changes to processes for admission and for set up.

Here is a summary for the parts relevant to primary education.

Key changes to Admissions

• Parents must now apply directly to the SENO with the child's report and recommendation before applying to an Autism class.
  
• They must apply to the SENO by February 1st of the year before the child needs to start in the class. So Feb 2025 for a Sept 2025 start.
• If the child meets the eligibility criteria, the SENO will give the parent a letter that they submit with the application to the school.
  
• Updated criteria for admissions, listed below

* Note: They haven't clarified how this impacts admissions where schools enrol earlier than February. I think it's likely that all schools will end up having to push special class admissions to after February. They also haven't clarified how this impacts ongoing admissions processes. My thoughts would be those with current admissions processes ongoing should advise parents who have applied to contact the SENO now. Legally the admissions process this year will need to proceed as outlined in the admissions notice. SENOs are currently having information meetings on the circular themselves.

Key changes to Funding

• All new classes will now get a €30,000 all-in start up grant.
• This includes all previous grants including set up grant (€6500), ICT (€6700), Sensory room (€7000) and loose furniture (€2500). 
• This is a significant increase in funding for new classes and hugely positive

Other notable features

• All medium-large schools (8 mainstream teachers plus) are advised to prepare to be required to open 1-3 classes.
• Priority will be to school's with available spaces that can be converted (up to €70,000 available for conversion work)
• Modular accommodation will be provided for where needed after that. 
• Specific taskforce being established for the D15 area.

Suggestions for next steps for schools

• If you've opened admissions share the new information with the parents who have applied, direct them to contact the SENO.
• Contact your SENO for confirmation next week, once they've gotten their own heads around it.
• If you haven't opened admissions for special classes yet, consider waiting until after February to streamline it. Ask your patron before making that call.
• School's enrolling for Special classes are required to update their admissions policy to include a new section to allow sharing of waiting list information and other relevant information with the NCSE. Suggested wording below. This change must be approved by the patron before you release your annual admissions notice.
• Publicly share the information about the need for parents to contact the SENO before Feb 1st with anyone on a waiting list or who inquires about special class places.

Trina's Thoughts

• Hugely positive to see actual forward planning happening. We've been looking for this level of planning for years, so a huge well done to those involved in leading this.
• Big extra workload for SENOs assessing all potential pupils for Autism classes and their eligibility. Interested to see how it plays out.
• Hugely positive to be clear that all medium-large schools are expected to open classes, and the follow through to post-primary.
• Hugely positive increase in funding.

Overall, seems well thought out, well planned and a sign of the real change the leasership are starting to have in NCSE. There will be teething issues this year with admissions, it would have been nice to have this pre-October, but it's still a really great sign. Well done John Kearney, Helen Walsh and everyone involved

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Updated Admissions Criteria for Autism Classes

Professional report(s) outlining:

• Diagnosis of Autism: DSM IV/V or ICD 10/11 (psychologist, psychiatrist, multi-disciplinary report)
  AND
• A demonstration of the understanding of complexity of the child’s overall level of need/s evidenced in the professional reports
  AND
• Given the severity or complexity of the child’s support needs, a clear professional recommendation as to what educational placement type would be most appropriate to best meet the child’s needs, along with the rationale for same. 

Suggested wording for admissions policy:

"Should your child or young person be placed on a waiting list for a place, their personal data may be shared with the National Council for Special Education for the purposes of planning for the provision of special education placements."