Expansion of special summer programme will ‘significantly’ help children

The expansion of the special education Summer Programme will ‘significantly’ benefit children of all abilities across the country, according to Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Special Education and Cork North Central TD, Padraig O’Sullivan.

Education Minister and Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry, Norma Foley and Minister of State for Special Education, Josepha Madigan, announced details of the 2023 Summer Programme on Thursday. The focus is on children with the most complex special educational needs being able to have access to a school-based programme.

More than 42,000 pupils availed of summer provision last year, up from 13,000 in 2019.

“Last year, Minister Foley and Minister Madigan made changes to the summer provision where we saw more kids than ever availed of the programme - more than 40,000 children. And in this year’s budget allocation there’s more than €40 million to extend the scheme further,” Deputy O’Sullivan said.

A new National Coordinator for special schools is set to be appointed to oversee the running of the programme in special schools and to liaise with the Department of Education. It is hoped it will alleviate pressure from school management and present an opportunity for other teachers.

A new Special School Pilot scheme has also been developed to ensure supports are targeted.

In addition, there are two in-school schemes for mainstream primary schools: the Primary School Scheme and the DEIS expanded literacy and numeracy summer camp/campa samhraidh, for pupils in DEIS schools. There is one scheme at post-primary level.

'SIGNIFICANTLY' EXPANSION

For these schemes, there will be a role for a Summer Programme Organiser, which must be allocated to one specific teacher, and the role of Summer Programme Manager can be shared between teachers in a school. Contracted teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) will be paid their personal rate of pay.

“The expansion of the programme is significant. There’s going to be an extra provision for children in special schools and there’s a pilot project being run specifically for kids in special educational settings. For me, that will make sure the programme extends to all people of all abilities.”

The Cork North- Central TD urged all school communities to examine how best they can offer this programme to their students.

“It is important that as many schools log onto this portal when it is launched and avail of the extra resources,” Deputy O'Sullivan added.

An online registration portal will be available soon for schools on gov.ie/summerprogramme