Critical issues affecting special needs assistants in the Irish education system
Carolan, Trish
(2023)
Critical issues affecting special needs assistants in the Irish education system.
REACH: Journal of Inclusive Education in Ireland, 36
(1).
pp. 5-8.
ISSN 2352-3093
More than 18 000 special needs assistants (SNAs) are employed in Irish
schools. According to the Department of Education (DE), their primary
function is to support the care needs of students with additional needs, assist
teachers, and ensure that students can access education. Recently, SNAs
have been campaigning for greater recognition of their contribution to the
Irish education system. This campaign has highlighted several critical issues
that impact SNAs working in Ireland, including entry-level training and
qualifications, ambiguity regarding their role and responsibilities and a need
for access to ongoing professional development.
Recognising the genuine contribution of SNAs to the Irish education system
and addressing some of the known inequities they experience is of particular
interest to the author of this paper. The author works in a special education
setting where forty-one SNAs comprise 80% of the staff. Hiring graduates
for the role and investing heavily in their professional development has been
transformative for this school. The contribution of SNAs in this setting is
extensive and has enabled the school to thrive whilst serving a student
population with highly complex learning and behavioural needs. This paper
begins with a brief examination of the history and current interpretation of
the SNA scheme. This is followed by a critical analysis of some of the key
issues concerning the employment of SNAs and a consideration of how SNAs
are uniquely recruited, deployed, and supported in the author’s setting. It
is argued that by addressing the critical issues impacting the current SNA
scheme, we can advance the broader cause of inclusion in the Irish education
system.
Metadata
Item Type:
Article (Published)
Refereed:
Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:
Special Needs Assistant (SNA); special school; qualifications; continuous professional development, supervision; collaboration