Working with SNAs Deputy Principals Conference May 2016

Working with SNAs Deputy Principals Conference May 2016

Managing. . .

Working with SNAs • Legislation • Allocation • Recruitment • Appointment • Contract • Roles and development of the PPP • Management : Inclusion vs Integration • Annual Review

Legislation • Education Act, 1998 • Equal Status Act, 2000 • Education Welfare Act, 2000 • EPSEN Act, 2004 • Education for Persons with Disabilities Act, 2005 • Circulars related to Special Needs and SNAs

Allocation of SNAs Circular 0030/2014 • Care Needs – • SNA to assist children with special needs who also have additional and significant care needs. • Significant medical need • Significant impairment of physical or sensory function • Emotional Behaviour Disorder

Recruitment • Education. Posts. ie & one line in local paper • Referees (relevant) required • Short Listing • Deadline for applications - 2 weeks after advert • Selection Board (3) • Notice of Interview & Job Description • Interview Criteria & Marking Scheme • Panel for future Appointments / subbing list?

Appointment • DES - Circular 0071/2011 / 0058/2006 and 12/05 and/15/05 • Selection Panel recommends to Board of Management • Board of Management ratifies • Retain collated Marking Sheets • Medical & Garda Clearance Certificates • Contract

Contract : • DES Circular s 12 /05 and 15/2005 • Job Description • Confidentiality Clause • Appointment Form • Leave – maternity/sick/Leave of absence - Circular 18/2004 & 58/2006 • Seniority – Circular 59/2006 • Croke Park Hours Circular 0071/2011 • Role Of SNA – Circular 0030/2014

Role of Principal/Deputy Principal (Circular page 150030/2014) • Principal/Deputy Principal/Special Needs Co-ordinator • • • Induction & Mentoring Monitoring Adhering to Contract Allocation/Rotation Training Individual Education Plans (IEP) Preventing/Managing Conflict SNA timetable of timetable /duties filed and available for sub if needed Accident/ Incident folder- -- signing , filing and monitoring

Role of Class teacher and Support teacher • See circular 0030/2014 – Page 7 and 8 • Ultimate responsibility is with the class teacher who should be qualified and experienced to meet the demands of teaching a child with special needs. • Promoter of the school ethos and policies. • Uses the continuum of support for Classroom support and School support. Staged approach. • Ability to differentiate and apply suited strategies and resources.

Working with SNAs. . .

Role of SNA • Care Needs – medical, physical, behavioural • Non-teaching – Assist Child & Class Teacher • Preparing/restoring resources for child’s learning • Preparing/enabling the child to participate in learning • Supervises & Escorting child’s movements on school campus including withdrawal • Supporting & enabling child to have optimum access to the curriculum • Staff Member – school policy & practice • Clearly outlined in DES Circular 0030/2014 pages 7 and 8

Working with SNAs • Clarity of Role/Duties • Relationship with Teacher • Relationship with Parent • Yard Supervision/Break-times • Staff Meetings – all/some/none? • Sharing in decision making : holidays? • Record Keeping - filing , diary, relevant documents/ programmes • Shared understanding of the school’s ethos and climate.

SNA Paperwork • • Pupil’s Care Needs Pupil’s Strengths Long/Short Term Targets Strategies, Programmes & Rewards Frequency Chart Incidence Reports Weekly Care Timetable Copy of Pupil Interview • These compile to form a Personal Pupil Plan

Documents needed to apply for SNA access • Assessment of Early Intervention Team -- Diagnosis • Psychological / Psychiatric Assessments Outlining care needs. • Speech & Language/ Occupational Therapy • Continuum of support- --- staged approach • Data, frequency charts, Reduction graphs • Incident reports, Behaviour plans, Reward / Token systems • BCN 1 form– for behaviour • Targets for Care Needs to promote independence

Decision summary from the SENO • LITH/ RTH • Special Class teaching Allocation • SNA Allocation • Published online also • Check NCSE website regularly for updates/ circulars/ forms and deadlines.

Annual SNA Review (circular 0030/2014 page 16) • Summary of care needs Form 4 -- from the school entailing all Identified pupils --- primary care needs listed and secondary needs noted. • Current targets to be noted which if met will lead to more independence. • Pupils moving to secondary/ special school will not be observed during the annual review. • Pupils due to start – not viewed until on site. See quantum • Parents to make appointment to meet SENO – by phone • Focused review / Desk review seems to be the current method: what is that? • Quantum of support

PPP Personal Pupil Plan • Identified care needs -- see circular 0030 /2014 • SNA intervention --impact to date • Current situation : Improvement/ Regression • Timeframe: • Targets: Long term and short term • Programmes and strategies to promote independence • SNA weekly care timetable • Behaviour reduction plan/ Frequency chart • Pupil’s voice/ opinion/ strength

PPP Examples • PPP Example A • PPP Example B

Integration Vs Inclusion • Integration: • Organise, Plan, Timetable, Logistics, Measured, Targets, Method, Trips with SNA on hand, Timed. Inclusion: . Welcoming, Atmosphere, Culture, Holistic, Smile. In class support, Team teaching, Yard, Trips with buddy