merrion street

Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton T.D. today welcomed the publication of the NCSE’s Policy Advice on Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Schools.
The Minister said “The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that Education is the key to giving every child an equal opportunity in life. It contains a commitment to examine the adequacy of current special education access and funding provision. This report is a significant step towards fulfilling this commitment”.
This is the first major report focused on the education of students with autism in almost 14 years. It was timely and necessary to take account of national and international developments and best practice which has arisen in the intervening period. Also, to take account of what is working well in our system and what needs to be improved.
In the course of preparing this policy advice, the NCSE commissioned two research papers: one to review literature on educating persons with ASD between 2008 and 2013 and the second to evaluate State-funded educational provision for students with ASD.
Referring to the extensive consultations which the Council conducted with a wide range of stakeholders – including students, parents, teachers, principals, academics, experts, psychologists, HSE officials, officials from his Department and others – in developing this policy advice, the Minister stated that “ the Report, is an independent, objective and evidence based assessment which has, at its heart, a clear desire to meet the needs of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder”.
The Minister went on to say that “the Council’s advice recognises the important contribution made by parents, teachers, school management bodies and all stakeholders which has transformed the ability of our schools to educate students with ASD.
The Report makes clear that there are many aspects of the current system which parents and schools are very happy with. It acknowledges that much has improved for students with ASD in recent years and that generally students with ASD are now included and supported well in schools.
However, the Report also considers that there is room for improvement and sets out 11 key recommendations designed to improve the current system. Each key recommendation suggests actions to bring these improvements about”.
The Minister has established an implementation group to consider the recommendations and to develop an implementation plan. He said that “my Department will fully engage with its partners in other Departments and agencies and will consult with relevant stakeholders as appropriate throughout the forthcoming process of implementation.”

ENDS
Notes to editors

Prevalence rate
Almost 14,000 students in schools have been diagnosed with autism – this is 1 in every 65 students in schools and is in line with prevalence rates recently reported in the UK and US. A previous estimate in Ireland in 2013 was 1 in every 100 students.

Investment in education of students with ASD – Over €300m per annum
There has been substantial investment in the education of students with autism over the 14 years since the publication of the last major report on autism in 2001. Over €300m is now invested annually in providing additional resources specifically to support students with autism in schools enabling:

· 63% of students to attend mainstream schools
· 23% to attend special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools and
· 14% to attend special schools.

Resources provided to support students with ASD include:
· 2,200 extra teachers in mainstream schools specifically to support autism.
· 900 special classes for students with autism – up from fewer than 80 in 2001.
· 20 special schools specifically for students with autism.
· One teacher and a minimum of two SNAs for every primary special class of six students with ASD (1.5 teachers and a minimum of two SNAs are allocated for every post-primary special class).
· SNA support – About 69% of all students with ASD access SNA support.
· Assistive technology.
· Professional development for teachers.
· Special transport scheme.
· Special equipment and furniture where required.
· Enhanced capitation grant.
· Adapted school buildings.
· Extended school year scheme.


Recommendations in the Report
The report includes 11 key Recommendations, which focus on improvements which might be considered to the range of provisions which are currently available for children with Autism in schools. The report’s key recommendations include:

1. More investment is needed to develop teacher knowledge, skills and understanding of autism.
2. Teachers should be able to select and use evidence informed interventions appropriately according to student need.
3. A need for better resourced multidisciplinary health teams for children with autism
4. The development of a safe, social summer day-activity programme for all students with complex educational needs to replace the July Provision scheme.

The NCSE estimates that implementing the school based recommendations in this report will cost an additional €20m per annum.