Managing Special
Needs Assistants
Special Needs
Assistants
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Legislation
Allocation
Recruitment
Appointment
Contract
Roles
Management
Review
Legislation
Education Act, 1998
 Equal Status Act, 2000
 Education Welfare Act, 2000
 EPSEN Act, 2004
 Education for Persons with
Disabilities Act, 2005
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Allocation
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Determined by:
•Significant Medical Needs
•Significant Physical Impairment
•Behaviour
- dangerous to self
- dangerous to others
•Care Needs – Key reference point
Recruitment
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EducationPosts.ie & one line in local paper
Referees (relevant) required
Short Listing
Deadline for applications - 2 weeks after
advert
Selection Board (3)
Notice of Interview & Job Description
Interview Criteria & Marking Scheme
Panel for future Appointments
Appointment
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DES - Circular 07/2002 & 03/2003
Selection Panel recommends to Board
of Management
Board of Management ratifies
Retain collated Marking Sheets
Medical & Garda Clearance Certificates
Contract
Contract
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DES Circular 15/2005
Job Description
Confidentiality Clause
Appointment Form
Leave – maternity/sick/Leave of
absence - Circular 18/2004 & 58/2006
Seniority – Circular 59/2006
Role of Principal
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Principal/Special Needs Co-ordinator
• Induction & Mentoring
• Monitoring
• Adhering to Contract
• Allocation/Rotation
• Training
• Individual Education Plans (IEP)
• Preventing/Managing Conflict
Role of SNA
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Care Needs – medical, physical, behavioural
Non-teaching – Assist Child & Class Teacher
Preparing/restoring resources for child’s learning
Preparing/enabling the child to participate in learning
Supervises & Escorting child’s movements on school
campus including withdrawal
Supporting & enabling child to have optimum access
to the curriculum
Staff Member – school policy & practice
Clearly outlined in DES Circular 15/2005
Management 1
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Clarity of Role/Duties
Reporting initially to Class Teacher
Relationship with Teacher
Relationship with Parent
Yard Supervision/Break-times
Staff Meetings – all/some/none?
Record Keeping - filing
Management 2
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SNA Contract Times
Full Time Post – 100% Contract
• Max. 6 hours 24 minutes – 32 hours per week
Infant Day – 83% Contract
• Max 5 hours 18 minutes – 23.3 hours per week
12 Extra Days
• Maybe used before and after school term
• Some of this time maybe transferred to increasing before &
after school supervision time
• Some schools spread the 12 extra days over the 183 days
giving an additional 24 minutes per day
• 12 extra days for part-time contracts on pro-rata basis
SNA Review 1
500 Schools – Review of
Documentation by post
 100 Schools - 10 days notice by
telephone before visit
 Oct 2008 – Feb 2009
 2 visits - 2 different teams
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SNA Review 2
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Visit 1 – External SENO, NEPS & DES
• Review documentation
• ‘Talk’ to Principal
Visit 2 – Inspector & DES
• Visit Classrooms
• Observe & Record
- Frequency, Duration & Intensity
• ‘Talk’ to Class Teacher & SNA
1-2 Days Duration
SNA Review 3
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Evaluation of
• Psychological & any other Reports
• SEN Pupil Records/Files
• Individual Education Plans
• SNA Timetable(s)
• Increasing/Consistent/Diminishing needs
• School Interventions & Support already in
place
• Parental Input
Outcome of Review communicated to
schools within 6 weeks
National Educational
Psychological Service
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Scheme for Commissioning
Psychological Assessments (SCPA)
•Schools outside NEPS scheme
•2% of Pupils – SCPA - €330 in total
•Psychologists recognised by NEPS
only – New List www.neps.ie
•Other Psychologists – contact NEPS
Special Education
Supports Service
Advice & Support
 In your School
 Training Courses
 Responding to needs
 www.sess.ie
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Focal Scoir
Discussion:
[email protected]
Policies & Templates:
www.ippn.ie
[email protected]
Principal Advice:
1 890 21 22 23
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