18th June 2004 - Principals not convinced by new 'weighting system' for SEN resources
Principals are not convinced by new 'weighting system' for SEN resources
Today's details of the new 'weighted' approach to allocating resources for children with special education needs (SEN) in primary schools, have not raised the hopes of principals. The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) acknowledges that the new model has potential to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and the unacceptable length of time that it takes the DES to respond to individual requests for children with SEN. However, the new system unveiled by the DES today leaves many key questions unanswered.
Recognising that there is a higher incidence of SEN amongst boys, the DES have now improved the quota of pupils required for each extra Support Teacher from 150 : 1 to 140 : 1 in a boys school. Sadly, in doing so the situation for girls has been dramatically worsened whereby extra SEN teachers will be appointed on a 200: 1 ratio. Before gender differences in SEN were addressed, a common ratio of 150: 1 had been tabled. Principals of all-girls' schools are now asking why their pupils are penalised with a dramatic drop in their resourcing levels.
IPPN welcomes the improved resourcing pupil ratio of 80 : 1 for designated disadvantaged schools, however, this masks a far deeper problem - the designation of schools with disadvantaged status is completely anomalous and lacking in fairness and transparency. There are numerous examples of schools sharing the same catchment areas and even on the same campus, one with and the other without designated disadvantage status! Using this simplistic approach to allocating additional SEN resources to children with social and economic disadvantage may indeed be convenient, but it merely magnifies the existing anomalies.
The heart of the problem lies in the fact that this is not a weighted system at all. It is merely an effort to spread out available resources as evenly as possible using a quota system. A true weighted system was first flagged more than ten years ago by the Special Education Review Committee (SERC) but was never implemented. What is needed now is a genuine weighted system based on a points rating attached to each child with special education needs, supported by a proper national pupil database - still not in existence in this country in 2004.
'Dropping' major system changes just as schools are about to close raises many serious questions about the timing of this announcement. It is unfair that the burden of this system change will be left to fall upon principals yet again with serious additional workload to be undertaken during official holidays. The DES' approach to change management flies in the face of good planning. Principals are also seriously concerned that parents of children who up to now have enjoyed one-to-one SEN resourcing will have to be informed that this ratio will be disimproved by the new quota system. This may give rise to legal challenges.
The hard reality for principals, parents and children with SEN is that there are still 6,000 children whose applications for resources have not been responded to. While acknowledging that the new 'weighted' (quota) system will allow schools to redeploy staff for many of these children, in several cases, up to two years later there is still no indication from the SEN Unit in the DES as to what level of resources will be made available. We take great pride in Ireland that we have a 'child centred' education system, however the resourcing of SEN appears to contradict this philosophy.
Ends
For further information:
Seán Cottrell, National Director, IPPN.
O21 452 4925 (Office)
086 6478717 (Mobile)
26th March 2004 - IPPN Welcomes Judgement in favour of Nano Nagel Junior School
IPPN welcomes today's landmark judgement in favour of Nano Nagle Junior School, Clondalkin .
This favourable judgement is a vindication of good practice and positive anti-bullying policies in place in primary schools across the country. This result provides encouragement and affirmation to primary school principals in their efforts to provide a positive and caring environment for all children entrusted to their care.
10th February 2004 - UCD Professor Launces Strong Attack on Privatisation of Education in Ireland
10th February 2004 Principals Fight to save Small Schools
Principals fight to save Small Schools
The Irish Primary Principal's Network (IPPN) will publish an interim report on the future of small schools in Ireland at their Annual Conference on Thursday. This research report, jointly undertaken with St. Patrick's College of Education, Drumcondra, examines a variety of options and possibilities that should enable smaller schools to thrive and prosper into the future.
This research document conclusively identifies that -
- The learning experience of children in small schools is comparable to that of children in larger schools.
- There are alternatives to amalgamations.
- International models provide proof that 'clusterings' can work.
- Small schools are an intrinsic part of the social fabric binding small communities together.
IPPN has taken the initiative in this particular area due to the fact that no serious consideration has been given to the future of small schools - over 80% of schools in Ireland can be classed as small schools with the Principal Teacher having full time duties as well as administrative and management functions. In recent times it has become apparent that smaller schools are being allowed wither on the vine.
This report will be the first part of the most comprehensive research to date on this particular subject.
Larry Fleming and John Curran, PRO, IPPN.
