Aontú Senator Sarah O’Reilly has called on the Department of Education to engage directly with families following the announcement of new “Inclusive Special Classes”, warning that the approach risks creating further uncertainty for children with additional needs.
The new model, which will be introduced in a number of post-primary schools this September, has prompted concern from organisations and families, who have requested urgent engagement with Minister Hildegarde Naughton.
Senator O’Reilly said the announcement reflects a continuing pattern of poor communication and planning.
“Families are again hearing about significant changes without any sort of consultation or communication from the Department. Coming so soon after recent SNA cuts, this has added to a growing sense of uncertainty and chaos.”
“There are real concerns that autism class sizes could effectively double under this model, with the Department saying there won’t be additional staff or classroom allocations. How will this work in practice if the class size is doubling but the level of support remains the same?”
“The Department must take the time to engage directly with families and representative organisations before moving forward. Policies need to be shaped by the lived experiences of those affected.”
Senator O’Reilly said a more considered and collaborative approach is needed.
“Schools, teachers, SNAs and families need clarity, reassurance and properly resourced support. It seems the Department has not learned anything from the recent SNA debacle and is once again making decisions that do not prioritise the needs of children with autism.”
