Two new Special Schools announced

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound, on 17/04/2023. Two new Special Schools announced

Tags: Education And Politics Teachers Parenting

Minister for Education and Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion have announced the establishment of two new special schools as part of a comprehensive update on enhanced education provision for students with special educational needs.

The two new special schools, one in Carrigtwohill, east Cork and one in Dublin 7, will be established for the 2023/24 school year.

Today’s announcement will ensure continued, significant expansion of special class capacity, particularly at post-primary level.

Along with the two new special schools the following measures are being progressed:

218 new special classes have been confirmed for opening in 2023, with more to be confirmed in the coming weeks – 126 at primary and 92 at post-primary level

capacity will be expanded in 11 other special schools around the country. See list below

allocations of special needs assistants will be published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) before 30 April, an earlier date than usual to allow schools to plan

a new SNA Workforce Development Unit has been established in the department

the NCSE is undertaking a recruitment process and campaign to fill special educational needs organiser (SENO) vacancies and hire additional SENOs

Two new special schools, one in Carrigtwohill, east Cork and one in Dublin 7, will be established for the 2023/24 school year. These schools will provide for the enrolment of children and young people with autism and complex learning needs up to 18 years of age. It is envisioned that both special schools will operate under the patronage of the local education and training Boards; Cork ETB and City of Dublin ETB.

It is intended that places will be prioritised for children who have no offer of a special school place for the 2023/24 school year. Details in relation to the location of the new special schools, the admission process and the number of places to be offered for 2023/24 in each new special school will be confirmed very shortly.

The NCSE will work closely with the families of the children and young people concerned to assist them in accessing the new places which will become available during the 2023/24 school year.

Planning for the establishment and opening of the new special schools will begin immediately. This will include a determination of the size of the school required so that the necessary staff recruitment, school policy development and related arrangements can be put in train. This will also include ongoing communication with the families concerned.

In addition to the establishment of two new schools in the school year 2023/24, a significant number of school building projects relating to special schools are currently in progress. In the interim, projects underway or being planned that are due to deliver additional capacity at special schools in the school year 2023/24 - view list here

Information on special schools and the list of mainstream schools with special classes, including new classes for the coming school year 2023/2024, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie.

The NCSE will continue to update the list as more classes are sanctioned ahead of the 2023/24 school year.

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