Latest news with #Inspectorate
Irish Examiner
08-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Autism charity welcomes moves to tackle special class policies which block children with greatest needs
A national charity that supports autistic students has welcomed moves to tackle 'exclusionary' school enrollment practices that disproportionally affect children with the greatest level of need. The charity AsIAm has reacted to the publication of a report by the Department of Education's Inspectorate, which found issues with almost all admission policies used by a selection of mainstream schools to determine entry to their special classes. The review provides an important spotlight on the admissions policies of some schools, the charity said. The inspectorate's findings confirm that, too often, admission policies can include exclusionary criteria, such as discriminatory codes of behaviour, updated diagnostic documentation requirements or a lack of resources that disproportionately affect autistic students with higher levels of support needs. Such practices are reflective of a school system that is not inclusive or in keeping with the spirit of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it added. 'We commend the report for documenting these issues and for recognising the inconsistency and lack of oversight in how such policies are applied across schools. 'We must remove the inherent prejudicial practices that exist within these policies.' However, the charity also expressed some concern around the report's references to eligibility criteria for autism class placements. "It is important to maintain the integrity of accessing an autism class which has a particularly defined criterion. "It is important the eligibility and the use of these classes are used for the students who have a particular recommendation for same. No child should be denied the opportunity to learn and thrive because of how their needs are defined or how systems interpret those needs. Some policies reviewed by the inspectorate required children to be able to participate in mainstream lessons as a condition for admission. Other clauses 'reserved the right to withdraw the offer of a place based on a perception of the student's behaviour". It also found several incidences of schools requiring parents to provide additional reports or documentation at the point of application. Education minister Helen McEntee has now written to the school patron bodies, asking them to commence a review of admissions policies. There are currently 3,335 special classes attached to mainstream schools. Read More Ireland faces court action over EU hate crime and cyber laws
Irish Examiner
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Minister instructs school patrons to review enrolment policies for special classes
School patrons have been directed to review their enrolment policies for special classes following a review that highlighted 'concerning' clauses and criteria that could limit autistic students' access to education. Minister for education Helen McEntee has instructed the school patrons, who are responsible for enrolment policies, to initiate the review after the Department of Education's Inspectorate published its findings. Carried out between last September and December, the review looked at the admission policies of 30 schools, including 15 post primary schools, and 15 primary schools. The review identified issues in 14 out of 15 post primary schools, and 12 out of the 15 primary policies, "raising significant concerns", said chief inspector Yvonne Keating. Some admissions policies required children to be able to participate in mainstream lessons as a condition for admission, while other clauses 'reserved the right to withdraw the offer of a place based on a perception of the student's behaviour.' The review of policies also indicated that many schools use the possibility of a child displaying behaviours that may pose a risk to the health and safety of others as a basis for exclusion from a special class. The report noted that "clauses that use perceived behaviour as a criterion for admission to a special class may imply that children with the greatest level of need cannot be supported to regulate their behaviour". "In addition, it is not possible to predict how children will respond to the structure of the school, the special class environment and to the school's support and provision." The inspectorate also noted that the way in which some schools interpret their responsibilities under the Education Act 1998 is 'leading them to discriminate against those children with the greatest level of need'. 'This approach, which unduly qualifies the right of some children to an inclusive education, does not acknowledge the impact and influence of interconnected environmental systems on their development.' 'It does not recognise how the culture and systems in place in a school can positively impact on children and their experience of and interaction with school.' This qualified approach to inclusion may also not align with Ireland's commitments to inclusive education under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), it added. Multi-denominational schools Meanwhile, school patron body Educate Together has called on Government to act on increasing the number of multi-denominational schools to improve choice for parents. Educate Together is the largest multi-denominational school patron in Ireland, having opened 50 schools since 2013. However, as no new schools are planned to open, it is calling for action on the schools reconfiguration for diversity initiative. Representatives from Educate Together met with TDs at Leinster House on Wednesday. Demand for Educate Together schools continues to grow, but 90% of primary schools remain under Catholic patronage, said Emer Nowlan, chief executive. "The successful transition of the first Catholic school to Educate Together opens up a pathway for others to follow, and there is broad support now for reconfiguration. We are calling on the new Government to proceed with the promised national survey of parents, and to support school communities that decide to transfer, so that more families can access this popular option." Read More Multi-denominational secondary school enrolments exceed Catholic counterparts
The Sun
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Cops must be BANNED from recording so-called ‘non-crime hate incidents', demand Tories
COPS must be banned from recording so-called 'non-crime hate incidents', the Tories will urge today. Ministers are under growing pressure to stop polic e logging 'offensive' statements when no crime has been committed. More than 13,000 are recorded every year, including playground name-calling by a nine-year-old boy and a tweet that resulted in police visiting a woman in her own home. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'The public want police on the streets, fighting crime and protecting families, not trawling social media for things someone might find offensive.' The Tories will table an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill today that would make it illegal for cops to retain personal data on people who have not broken the law. They argue the powers have spiralled out of control and are being used to intimidate innocent people, with incidents still showing up on criminal record checks. It comes as a Telegraph investigation revealed 14 out of 15 police forces admitted they do no analysis of whether the records help stop crime. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'Our amendment will stop police forces wasting time on this Orwellian nonsense and get them back to doing the job the public expects — fighting real crime. 'Under the plan, non-crime hate incidents would be banned unless a senior officer signs off that retaining the data could prevent real crime.' A report last year by His Majesty's Inspectorate found forces were misusing the powers despite stricter guidance. But Policing Minister Diana Johnson said: 'Instead of introducing unworkable measures which would prevent the police monitoring serious anti-Semitism and other racist incidents they should support the Government's prioritisation of neighbourhood policing.' 'It's mind-boggling!' Woke cops need to prevent REAL crime and stop policing tweets, rages Reform MP 2
