This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-16824102
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Education department special needs review due | Education department special needs review due |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Maggie Taggart Education Correspondent | By Maggie Taggart Education Correspondent |
| Education Minister John O'Dowd has said changes made to the way special education needs services are allocated in Northern Ireland will make the system less complex. | |
| The Department of Education is axing the statements which guarantee extra help to pupils with special needs. | |
| In a consultation, only 10% of the 3,000 responses approved of the change. | In a consultation, only 10% of the 3,000 responses approved of the change. |
| Mr O'Dowd said it is currently a five-stage process and the changes will make it more streamlined. | Mr O'Dowd said it is currently a five-stage process and the changes will make it more streamlined. |
| "I fully understand those parents who have responded to the consultation and said 'no it was hard enough getting this statement, you're not taking it off me'. | "I fully understand those parents who have responded to the consultation and said 'no it was hard enough getting this statement, you're not taking it off me'. |
| "What I'm saying to those parents is the changes I'm bringing in place will protect your child's education in legislation the same way the statement does. | "What I'm saying to those parents is the changes I'm bringing in place will protect your child's education in legislation the same way the statement does. |
| "I also have to think of those families who are coming into the system - let's make it a far less complex process that it normally is." | "I also have to think of those families who are coming into the system - let's make it a far less complex process that it normally is." |
| He also said the changes were not aimed at closing special education needs schools. | He also said the changes were not aimed at closing special education needs schools. |
| "We are not on an agenda to close special educational needs schools," he said. | "We are not on an agenda to close special educational needs schools," he said. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |