Naughton: All Students Get School Place This September, Inclusive Special Classes Working
Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton assured parents on RTÉ that all students will have a school place this September. She highlighted "inclusive special classes" with extra resources like teachers, SNAs, and a €30,000 grant, which schools are requesting to formalize. The Department has met with advocacy groups and will meet again next week.
Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton assured parents on RTÉ's Drivetime that there will be a school place "for all students" this September, though "it may not be where they want it." She stated her duty is to ensure every pupil has a school place.
Ms Naughton said "inclusive special classes" are operating in schools and "working really well," leading schools to ask her Department to "formalise" this. A "traditional special class" has six students, one teacher, and two Special Needs Assistants. These classes allow students access to a special class for regulation or breaks, with access to a special education teacher and SNAs.
The minister said these inclusive classes are already happening and have grown organically. Schools will receive "an extra teacher, an extra two SNAs, €30,000 start-up grant." While understanding concerns, Ms Naughton said she is "led by educators" who say this is working well. Her Department met advocacy groups and Minister of State Michael Moynihan will meet the groups again next week.