Special Needs

Students with special needs

The school will use the resources, both financial and personnel, provided by the Department of Education and Science to make reasonable provision and accommodation for students with disabilities or special needs in order that these students are free to participate in the life of the school in so far as is reasonable and practicable. While recognizing and fully supporting parent's rights to have a school of their choice for their children, the school's ability to accept students with particular need is dependent on the supply of resources suitable to the needs of the individual students being supplied by the Department of Education and Science.

The Board of Management needs to be aware of any special needs as early as possible, so that these needs can be assessed and addressed if possible.

In making provision for special needs students the following information is required.

Has the student had access to any of the following resources?

• 1.   Special needs assistant or classroom assistant.
• 2.   Special class
• 3.   Help, for specific needs, from any resource teacher.
• 4.   Assistance with behavioral modification
• 5.   Psychological assessment. Report to be provided
• 6.   Any additional resources to help with their special needs
• 7.   Help in areas including: visual impairment, hearing impairment, general learning disability or emotional disturbance
• Any resource in relation to travel or mobility. Etc.

If an expert report is provided, it should include a workable strategy for addressing the needs, allowing for the resources available.

The Board of Management, having gathered all relevant information and professional documentation, assesses how the needs of special needs students can be met.

Final confirmation of a place may in exceptional cases be given when the Department of Education and Science/School confirm in writing that the necessary resources are in place.

N.B.: It may take some time for the Department of Education and Science to process such applications. Parents are strongly advised to inform the school as early as possible and discuss their situation well in advance of making application.

As soon as is practicable, but not later than 21 days, after a parent has provided, the relevant information, the Board of Management shall make a decision in respect of the application concerned and inform the parents in writing thereof. Education Welfare Act (Section 19, (3)).

St Aidan's CBS, Collins Ave., Whitehall, Dublin 9 | Tel. 01 8377587 | Copyright © 2004-2006