GUIDELINES FOR INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLANS Pat Curtin CEO The National Council for Special Education Irish Primary Principals’ Network 9 th September 2009 The Role of the S.E.N.O. Nuala McDonnell SENO Maria Moriarty SENO

The National Council for Special Education Objectives Role of Special Education Needs Organiser (S.E.N.O.) Local Service Delivery Functions of the S.E.N.O. Role Role with Key Stakeholders and Agencies

The National Council for Special Education Legislation Legislation that Governs the Role of S.E.N.O. EPSEN Act 2004 Disability Act 2005 Towards 2016 National Development Plan 2007 – 2013 Programme For Government Recent Ministerial / Department Statements

The National Council for Special Education Local Service Delivery Purpose to co-ordinate with schools, parents, NEPs, HSE and other relevant bodies the provision of education and other support services to children with Special Education Needs as a consequence of a diagnosed disability The National S.E.N.O. Structure 10 Areas 12 Senior SENO’s (10 Managerial and 2 Specialist Posts) 74 S.E.N.O. Districts

The National Council for Special Education Local Service Delivery Each S.E.N.O. has a case load of specific schools within a designated geographical area Primary Post Primary Special Schools On average a cohort of 10,000 school going children estimated to be 18,000 on the full implementation of EPSEN 2004 Currently approx. 500 children with Special Educational Needs on a case load 0ver 12,000 applications are processed annually

The National Council for Special Education Functions of the S.E.N.O. Role Parameters of the S.E.N.O. Role Work within DES Criteria Strict adherence to Sp. Ed. Circulars and N.C.S.E. Circulars Guidelines are issued through N.C.S.E. regarding clarification of criteria Allocation of resources for pupils with Special Educational Needs as a consequence of a diagnosed disability.

The National Council for Special Education Functions of the S.E.N.O. Role Allocation of resource hours to schools (Sp. Ed. 01/05, 02/05, PPT 02/05, 02/08) Allocation of Special Needs Assistants to schools (Sp. Ed. 07/02, 09/09) Verify to Department on applications for transport for pupils with SEN (School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Needs – 11/08) Recommendation to Department on applications for assistive technology for pupils with SEN (Des. Sp. Ed. M14/05) Identify appropriate educational settings

The National Council for Special Education Functions of the S.E.N.O. Role Allocation of Resource Hours Primary – Low Incidence Post Primary – Low & High Incidence What is needed NCSE Application Form (fully & correctly completed) Professional Report that diagnosis the disability and the consequential SEN The process Completed application and relevant professional reports sent to SENO from the school Desk based exercise 6/8 week turn around for decision Pre-summer queuing system according to date received Decision notified to the school and to DES/VEC

The National Council for Special Education Resource Hours – Low Incidence Low Incidence DisabilityHoursReports Required Physical Disability3Medical and/or O.T. & Learning Consequence Hearing Impairment4Audiologist and verification from VT (Psychological report may be required) Visual Impairment3.5Ophthalmic consultant and verification from VT (Psychological report may be required) Emotional Disturbance Severe Emotional Disturbance Psychiatrist / Psychologist and evidence of ongoing treatment Specific Speech & Language4Psychological (Non Verbal or Full Scale IQ 90+) and S&L Report/Expressive & or Receptive 70 or below Moderate GLD3.5Psychological stating IQ Severe/ Profound GLD5Psychological stating IQ below 35 Autism / ASD5Psychological or Multi-disciplinary team Multiple Disabilities5Reports appropriate to 2 or more of the above

The National Council for Special Education Functions of the S.E.N.O. Role Allocation of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) to schools Purpose of SNA To assist with addressing the CARE NEED arising from a diagnosed disability to enable the pupil to access the educational environment. Duties are strictly non-teaching as defined in Sp Ed 07/02 Care Needs SIGNIFICANT medical need arising from a disability SIGNIFICANT impairment of physical/sensory function Behavioural issues which are a danger to themselves or others

The National Council for Special Education Functions of the S.E.N.O. Role SNA continued… What is required? NCSE pupil application form (fully and correctly completed) NCSE SN2 School Profile Form Professional report containing the recommendation from the professional who diagnosed the pupil’s disability and identified the care needs and evidence describing 1.the pupils care needs in the school setting 2.the reason for SNA support 3.the benefits the pupil would derive from such support in the educational setting

The National Council for Special Education Functions of the S.E.N.O. Role SNA continued… The level of SNA support allocated to the school is determined by the following: Record of nature, intensity and duration of care needs Information on school based interventions already in place Existing capacity to address the pupils care needs Acknowledgement of diminishing care needs of pupils in receipt of SNA support e.g. Shared access In order to expedite the process each application should be accompanied by a record of the nature, frequency, intensity and duration of the pupils care needs in the school context.

The National Council for Special Education Functions of the S.E.N.O. Role Transport Transport Scheme 11/08 Pupil has a diagnosed disability and cannot avail of the routine transport service Criteria is that the pupils attends the nearest most suitable educational setting to meet the child’s special educational need S.E.N.O. verifies that the pupil meets criteria and that the school is the nearest Assistive Technology M14/05 Pupil must have a serious physical and/or communicative disabilities of a degree which makes ordinary communication through and/or writing impossible for them Equipment must be of direct educational benefit to the pupil The child will need the equipment throughout the school day Visiting Teacher Service Retention/Transfer of Equipment

The National Council for Special Education Functions of S.E.N.O. Role Identification of Appropriate Educational Settings Data base of Special Schools/classes Data on availability of schools places S.E.N.O. network when pupil is moving location to identify school availability Establishment of Special Classes according to need Liaison with Education Welfare Officer Home Tuition Pre-school ASD (3 – 5 years) Children with other disabilities who are awaiting special school placement Benefits - S.E.N.O. network to determine availability of places - facilitates planning for future provision

The National Council for Special Education Role with key stakeholders/agencies SENO Focus 2005 – 2009/10 Over 12,000 applications from primary and post-primary schools processed each year National service provided despite vacancies/absences of up to 20% of front-line staff Development of a consistency of approach to the resourcing of schools Facilitating transitioning of children with SEN from primary to post-primary Information provided to schools and parents to provide greater transparency around the allocation of resources Development of Special Education Administration System - SEAS

The National Council for Special Education Role with key stakeholders/agencies Future of S.E.N.O. Role Under EPSEN future expansion of S.E.N.O. role Statutory responsibility for specific functions in relation to Assessment Individual education plans Liaison with the health sector Designation of schools

The National Council for Special Education Conclusion The local service of the N.C.S.E. is provided through the network of S.E.N.O. s Every school with a DES roll number has an assigned S.E.N.O S.E.N.O.s engage with schools, parents, HSE, Visiting Teacher Service, DES, NEPs, NEWB in relation to education provision for pupils with SEN S.E.N.O.s are primarily involved in resourcing schools but also engage in meetings, case conferences, presentations and participate in relevant committees and working groups

The National Council for Special Education Thank You