Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the lack of accreditation to students for the SNA national training course being recommended to SNAs and schools by her Department and the concern of SNAs that accreditation should reflect the complexities of some of the responsibilities of the role and the course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30275/20]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme (SNAs) was published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in 2018. The Review made a number of recommendations including the need for a national training programme for SNAs currently employed in our schools.

Following consideration of the recommendation including engagement with stakeholders, it was decided that a training and professional framework for SNAs should be developed. As a first step, it was decided that a once off unaccredited programme was required to help ensure SNAs currently working in our schools have a shared understanding of their role and way of working with children with the complex care needs.

Following a public procurement process, University College Dublin (UCD) School of Education was awarded the contract for the development and delivery of the once off programme. UCD’s wide-ranging experience and expertise in education and training will help ensure the programme is of high quality, evidence based and relevant to the SNA role.

The programme aims to enhance the knowledge, skills and expertise of SNAs whose work is central to the inclusion of students with additional care and complex needs in school life. For some SNAs, this programme may present the first opportunity in recent times for them to engage with the theory and research based best practice underlying their role in a professional and supported environment. Completion of the programme may serve as a stepping stone to further education opportunities in the area.

The online programme consists of five modules delivered over a ten-month period covering inclusion, communications and language, a range of special needs and information on caring for students with additional care needs. In total, there are 3,500 places available on the programme over the next four years.

This programme will begin in January 2021 with 500 participants in the first year. Priority is being given to SNAs working in School Inclusion Pilot Schools. Over 4,000 expression of interests have been received to date.

Each participant who completes the programme successfully will receive a certificate from UCD School of Education.

There is no cost to serving SNAs working in schools. This course is fully funded by the Department of Education and Skills.