GUIDELINES FOR INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLANS
The National Council for Special Education
Irish Primary Principals’ Network
9th September 2009
The Role of the S.E.N.O.
Nuala McDonnell SENO
Maria Moriarty SENO
Pat Curtin CEO
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 Disability
Hours
Reports Required
Physical Disability
3
Medical and/or O.T. & Learning Consequence
Hearing Impairment
4
Audiologist and verification from VT (Psychological report may
be required)
Visual Impairment
3.5
Ophthalmic consultant and verification from VT (Psychological
report may be required)
Emotional Disturbance
3.5
Psychiatrist / Psychologist and evidence of ongoing treatment
Severe Emotional Disturbance
5
Psychiatrist / Psychologist and evidence of ongoing treatment
Specific Speech & Language
4
Psychological (Non Verbal or Full Scale IQ 90+) and S&L
Report/Expressive & or Receptive 70 or below
Moderate GLD
3.5
Psychological stating IQ 35-49
Severe/ Profound GLD
5
Psychological stating IQ below 35
Autism / ASD
5
Psychological or Multi-disciplinary team
Multiple Disabilities
5
Reports 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
www.ncse.ie
The National Council for Special Education
Thank You