preview

The Learning-Support Guidelines

Decent Essays

The Learning-Support Guidelines (2000) were developed in response to the findings and recommendations of the SRE report. They set out the aims of learning support education and provided practical advice for schools on the organisation of a positive school environment for children with SEN.
Griffin and Shevlin (2007), note the significance of these developments in moulding the statutory structure of the 2004 EPSEN Act where and where the duties and responsibilities of school personnel and boards of management for SEN are outlined. This act, which holds schools responsible for SEN provision and management through its outline of the roles and responsibilities of school personnel and management and rights of parents, is concerned with the formation and implementation of education plans for children with assessed SEN. It set up an independent agency funded by the state, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) whose function is to plan and co-ordinate the provision of support services to pupils for SEN using an inclusive approach to education.
As education policies worldwide focus on inclusion national developments in Ireland reacted and responded accordingly. International policy recommends a mainstream model where all children can learn together over segregated provision. Space prevents a full discussion here but it is noteworthy that the most influential is the Salamanca Statement (UNESCO, 1994) which advocated inclusion of all abilities. Subsequently,

Get Access