Talks on SNA services continue
by Bernard Harbor
 
Most commentators believe additional safety measures and a sustained reduction in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the community could lead to progress.
Most commentators believe additional safety measures and a sustained reduction in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the community could lead to progress.

Fórsa was continuing focussed discussions aimed at achieving the earliest possible safe resumption of school-based services to students with additional needs as this bulletin went to press.

 

Following huge media interest and a Dáil debate last week, the union said it believed the process was most likely to have a successful outcome if it was conducted on a professional basis, rather than through a running commentary in the media.

 

Since then, the Government announced that the high number of Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations meant that schools will not open fully before mid-March.

 

Tánaiste Leo Varakdar said that the prospect of a safe and phased reopening of schools, with priority for services to children with special needs, would be enhanced when the daily number of new cases fell to levels experienced when schools were last open in the September-October period.

 

In a communication to SNAs and other school staff last week, Fórsa said: “It’s our intention to continue to explore realistic measures to improve safety provision and re-build confidence, just as we were doing prior to the Government’s announcement [not to reopen school-based services] on Tuesday (19th January).”

 

Most commentators believe additional safety measures and a sustained reduction in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the community could lead to progress.

 

Last week’s Dáil statements by the minister for education, and the minister for special education and inclusion, suggested that the Government was willing to work with unions and other stakeholders to make in-school provision for students with special education available as soon as possible, and to urgently progress home-based services in the meantime.

 

Fórsa said it shared these goals and would continue to work with the education department towards the resumption of these vital services in the shortest possible timeframe compatible with the safety of students and staff.

 

“SNAs and others working in SEN (special educational needs) provision are more aware than most of the urgent need to begin the resumption of services. It remains Fórsa’s belief that this can and should be done in ways that underpin the safety of students, staff and others during this awful pandemic,” it said.

 

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