Plans to review Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations have been halted by the education minister following widespread criticism from teachers, parents and the trade union Fórsa.
Dave Sexton, an organiser with Fórsa responsible for schools in the northern region, including Donegal, welcomed the government’s decision to “pause and reflect on its review of SNA allocations.”
He spoke with the Donegal News about the review, which he said “caused an awful lot of angst among SNAs on the ground, schools, principals, teachers and parents.”
“It is good that the department has listened to the SNAs in the schools and our members,” he added.
Fórsa had been working in the background, engaging with the department on the proposed cuts.
“We suggested to them that they pause this process until they provide clarity as to why these cuts have been made in the way that they have,” he said.
Mr Sexton hopes the department will provide further clarity and review all of the decreases in allocation in schools that have been notified about the reductions.
They also want the department to clarify the redeployment scheme for SNAs, something Fórsa had negotiated on behalf of their members.
“If allocations were reduced, then an SNA would move from one school to another, similar to teachers,” he explained.
The trade union continues to engage with the department, school management bodies and parents’ associations on the matter.
They said the pause also offers an important opportunity to discuss a better way of planning and managing SNA allocations in the future.
Andy Pike, Fórsa’s head of education, called the decision “a significant step forward in recognising that the work of SNAs goes far beyond what is reflected in the current, outdated SNA circulars.”
“Their role is not just about meeting primary physical care needs. It’s vital to supporting students’ learning and wellbeing,” he said.
“The minister’s decision will be very welcome and will help ease anxieties around the possibility of SNA supports being removed from children in mainstream classes, who rely on that support to fully participate in their education,” he added.
