Concerns mount over ‘gaps’ in new rules for use of restraint against children in schools
Ombudsman for Children ‘deeply concerned’ about lack of independent monitoring and inspection of practice in new guidance
National Council for Special Education
Use of seclusion banned in schools for pupils with challenging behaviour
Physical restraint only be permitted in ‘crisis’ situations where there is risk to students and staff
Autism: Why are so many children being diagnosed these days?
As many as one in 20 schoolchildren in Ireland may have autism or similar developmental issues, studies suggest
Sharp increase in autism diagnoses to require thousands of additional special needs places in schools
Official estimates point to a near doubling in proportion of children with autism in need of support at school within five years
Single-school enrolment system planned for children with special needs
New approach aims to end practice of parents having to apply to dozens of schools to find appropriate places
Child with autism refused place by 19 schools
Government accused of failing to uphold right to education for children with additional needs
School therapy supports to be restored in special schools in September
Therapists will be based in 16 special schools as part of new pilot project
A new report recommends phasing out special education. Is this the right approach?
The NCSE recently recommended that all students with special needs ‘should be educated in mainstream schools’. Two parents debate the implications
All special needs students ‘should be educated in mainstream schools’, council recommends
National Council for Special Education urges move towards ‘fully inclusive’ schools for all pupils over the coming years
Four new special schools to be set up in Limerick, Meath, Wexford and Kildare in response to rising demand
Local areas could not meet demand among students with complex needs by expanding existing schools
Several private schools to provide special classes in drive to become ‘truly inclusive’
Spiritans say new special school in south Dublin forms part of congregation’s ‘mission for the future’
New special school opens in south Dublin: ‘It’s very emotional. We never thought it would happen’
South Dublin is traditionally underserved by special education. It may be the first of several to be established on the grounds of prestigious Spiritan-run schools
Two new special schools to be established in Cork and Dublin
Extra capacity for 11 schools and hundreds more special classes to be added in mainstream system
Authorities scramble to open new special-needs classes and schools for 100 children
New places will open as soon as possible, says Josepha Madigan
Up to 80 children with special needs in Dublin without school places
Taoiseach apologises to family without appropriate education for seven years
Taoiseach apologises in Dáil to Milne family over State failure
Parents unable to place twins in special school despite autism and learning difficulties
Schools may be forced to open places for special needs children – Madigan
‘No other option’ but to take ‘substantive action’, says Minister of State for Special Education
‘Serious upskilling is required’: Schools adjust to rapid growth in special classes
The number of pupils in such classes is up 400% in a decade, but training lags behind
DLD: The most common childhood disorder you’ve probably never heard of?
Irish study aims to improve diagnosis of developmental language disorder using an app
Crisis in recruitment and retention of school principals will only worsen
Responsible for everything from drains to contact tracing, why would anyone want to be a principal?
Languages to be introduced to primary schools on pilot basis
Pupils in more than 100 schools to learn foreign languages from third class
Expanded summer ‘catch-up’ programme to support up to 81,000 vulnerable children
Ministers announce €40m supports for pupils with special needs or at risk of disadvantage
Covid catch-up classes: ‘The chequebook must be opened to make this happen’
Ambitious education programme vital to support pupils with special needs – AsIAm
Court orders reconsideration of refusal to provide school transport to boy with autism
Judge says decisions by appeal board were ‘set at nought’ if it announced them without adequately explaining how they were reached
New special school to be established next year in south Dublin
The move aims to address an acute shortage of appropriate school places in the area
More south Dublin primary schools agree to open classes for special needs pupils
About 30 children who do not have a school place will be able to join mainstream schools
Nearly half of complaints to children’s ombudsman concern education
Office concerned over ‘slow pace of change’ around young people’s mental health
Autism provision is blocked by lack of partnership and investment
Everyone agrees that children with autism have a right to education. Underfunded, overcrowded schools need significant investment to provide it
Schools in affluent areas of south Dublin resisting special classes, say campaigners
Department of Education compels 39 schools in area to open classes for children with autism
Resistance to special classes risks creating ‘segregated’ school system
Department of Education inspectors find many schools use restrictive enrolment
Teenager with special needs challenges his explusion
Boy allegedly hit one of the teachers in his secondary school with a brush lastyear
Government shelves controversial changes to SNA supports for schoolchildren
Support groups had opposed move over fears it would dilute support for vulnerable pupils
Girls and autism: Why are so many going undiagnosed?
Research suggests disorder often manifests differently in girls with many missing out on vital support
Q&A: Will pupils lose out in changes to how special needs assistants are allocated?
Concern among groups over ‘rushed’ and ‘partial delivery’ of planned changes
All you need to know about new school admission laws
A ban on putting baby’s name down for school, limits on places for children of past pupils and rules for opting out of religion: the new legislation comes into effect soon
We are failing too many children with disabilities in mainstream schools
I want a totally inclusive approach to education – but it won’t be cheap, fast or easy
The 12 education issues set to dominate 2020
Industrial strife, mergers and Leaving Cert reform will be prominent in coming year
Diagnosis not needed to secure SNA support for children
Move by department aims to ensure pupils with disabilities can access help
Is Ireland ready for a ‘total inclusion’ approach for special education?
Controversial plans could see end of special classes in favour of all children being placed in mainstream
Over 500 children with special needs are without school places
Claim that home-tuition grants were deliberately delayed is rejected by Government
Irish Times view on special education: Long road to total inclusion
We must be satisfied children’s best interests will be met educating them in mainstream classes
Schools to be banned from asking about children’s disabilities by 2021
Any move to close special schools and classes will require ‘careful consideration’
Schools may be banned from asking about special needs during enrolment
State should consider moving to ‘total inclusion’ model, Minister to be advised
Is a fully inclusive school system right for Ireland?
Divisions on whether mainstream classes should accommodate all special needs pupils
South Dublin schools may be forced to open more special needs places
Minister for Education activates new law which direct schools to open special classes
No figures on shortage of special needs school places, says McHugh
Lack of official engagement a central challenge for families, says charity
Boy with autism ‘regressed’ due to refusal of school-bus place
Autism advocacy charity says move ‘breaches spirit of Act’ aimed at protecting boy
Not going to school next week: ‘Our children are slipping through the cracks’
No Child 2020: Hundreds of children with special needs are without school places
Hundreds of children with autism, special needs without appropriate school places
Total of 384 children are in receipt of home tuition grants, latest figures show
Disabled SNA wins appeal over school’s refusal to re-employ
Marie Daly appealed to the Supreme Court after she failed to get her job back following road crash
Lack of support on special needs: ‘Does my son not have rights?’
Scott Saunders (9) does not have appropriate school place for the coming academic year
Learning difficulties: Schools may be forced to open special classes
Parents protest in Dublin and Cork over shortage of special needs places in schools
Schools are acting ‘illegally’ by placing vulnerable children on reduced timetables
Lack of data means practice is a ‘hidden scandal’ that is not being monitored
Schools to get 800 new special needs assistants
Schools set to receive confirmation of individual allocations from midday on Monday
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