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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Education department special needs review due | Education department special needs review due |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| By Maggie Taggart Education Correspondent | By Maggie Taggart Education Correspondent |
| The Department of Education is planning to scrap the statements which guarantee extra help to pupils with special education needs, despite opposition. | |
| It said the review of services will mean a faster response and a better education for children with physical or learning disabilities. | It said the review of services will mean a faster response and a better education for children with physical or learning disabilities. |
| The Special Educational Needs Review began two-and-a-half years ago. | The Special Educational Needs Review began two-and-a-half years ago. |
| But the government is only now bringing forward its plans, to change what is described as out-of-date legislation. | But the government is only now bringing forward its plans, to change what is described as out-of-date legislation. |
| Some of these have been altered in response to complaints from parents and disability groups. But the main proposal of replacing the "statements" remains. | Some of these have been altered in response to complaints from parents and disability groups. But the main proposal of replacing the "statements" remains. |
| They can take a long time to achieve but can open the door to a lot of extra help for special needs pupils. | They can take a long time to achieve but can open the door to a lot of extra help for special needs pupils. |
| Only 10% of the 3,000 responses approved of scrapping them. | Only 10% of the 3,000 responses approved of scrapping them. |
| Nevertheless, in the new system, only pupils in special schools or with serious needs will get a new "Co-ordinated Support Plan" or CSP and schools will be expected to spot most problems and provide help for children. | Nevertheless, in the new system, only pupils in special schools or with serious needs will get a new "Co-ordinated Support Plan" or CSP and schools will be expected to spot most problems and provide help for children. |
| Pre-school education will spot problems early and 10 pilot schemes are working on that now. | Pre-school education will spot problems early and 10 pilot schemes are working on that now. |
| Education Minister John O'Dowd has revealed the consultation responses and said there was so much diversity in the replies, it would be impossible to please everyone. | Education Minister John O'Dowd has revealed the consultation responses and said there was so much diversity in the replies, it would be impossible to please everyone. |
| But he said he has listened to the views and re-examined the proposals. He is now expecting schools to raise their game and provide better support to children. | But he said he has listened to the views and re-examined the proposals. He is now expecting schools to raise their game and provide better support to children. |
| Thirty-eight per cent of post primary schools were judged to fall short in their provision for special needs. | Thirty-eight per cent of post primary schools were judged to fall short in their provision for special needs. |
| In the future, the department plans to have only two stages on the way to getting the CSP replacement for a statement, which at the moment has five stages and is said to be too bureaucratic. The process will be speeded up with a time limit of 20 weeks, instead of 26 weeks. | In the future, the department plans to have only two stages on the way to getting the CSP replacement for a statement, which at the moment has five stages and is said to be too bureaucratic. The process will be speeded up with a time limit of 20 weeks, instead of 26 weeks. |
| At present the statements must be reviewed every year, and that is said to be too bureaucratic and time consuming. In future, there would simply be a meeting between parent and school principal and a formal review only where one of them requests it. | At present the statements must be reviewed every year, and that is said to be too bureaucratic and time consuming. In future, there would simply be a meeting between parent and school principal and a formal review only where one of them requests it. |
| The Department of Education said the main aim is to change the mind-set among parents that only a "statement" of special needs can give adequate help to their children. | The Department of Education said the main aim is to change the mind-set among parents that only a "statement" of special needs can give adequate help to their children. |
| Instead it wants to make sure that all children can be high achievers according to their ability and are helped to achieve the best results. | Instead it wants to make sure that all children can be high achievers according to their ability and are helped to achieve the best results. |