Delegates at Fórsa’s Education conference in Portlaoise backed a motion calling on the union to engage with Government and education ministers to provide immediate support to school students with special education needs, in their preparation for life beyond secondary school.

The union policy, backed unanimously by the 160 delegates attending the conference, seeks to ensure students can progress and reach their full potential by accessing third level education, apprenticeships, other vocational training or into the workplace.

Fórsa also launched its position paper for a National Progression Framework for students with additional care needs at the conference.

Proposing the motion, special needs assistant Carol McSherry said the union welcomes and endorses the National Access Plan, a strategic action plan for equity of access, recently published by the Higher Education Authority.

Carol added: “The National Access Plan is designed to target and support students who are socio-economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities and students from the Irish Traveller community.

“Today we call for the recommendations contained in the National Access Plan to be actioned immediately, including the development of policies and implementation plans to promote meaningful participation of students with intellectual disabilities.

“We commend the valuable work of our SNAs with children and young adults in schools and the vitally important role they play in assisting the students they work with to complete their education.

“We’re disappointed at the lack of support that exists for these students for the next stage of their life journey, so it is vital that the action points in the National Access Plan are fully implemented,” she said.

Carol highlighted figures that illustrate increases in demand for educational supports, and projections that indicate this trend is likely to continue: “At post-primary level, it is estimated that 17.9% of 13-year-olds have some form of special education need.

“AHEAD’s 2021 analysis of 2019/2020 data shows there’s been consistent year-on-year growth in the numbers of students with disabilities registering with support services in higher education, an increase of over 220% in the last 11 years.

“These figures show that we need to plan properly, and respond appropriately, to ensure those students to whom we provide support can have a quality experience beyond second level school. That they can aspire to achieving their potential, and exercising their own choices as they prepare to complete their secondary education,” she said.

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