Fórsa has welcomed the Government’s decision, announced this afternoon (Tuesday) to pause its review of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations. The union said the move provides an important opportunity for the Minister to engage meaningfully with schools and stakeholders on a better approach to planning and managing SNA supports.
Andy Pike, Fórsa’s head of education, said: “This pause gives us an important opportunity to discuss a better way of planning and managing SNA allocations for the future. It is a significant step forward in recognising that the work of SNAs goes far beyond what is reflected in the current, outdated SNA circulars.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. 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 said.
Mr Pike said the decision also demonstrates how unions and education stakeholders can work collaboratively in the best interests of both students and staff. He added: “Part of the discussion that now needs to take place is an assessment of whether or not special education is adequately funded, because if 25,000 SNAs is not sufficient to meet the need that has been identified, then the Government needs to look at its investment strategy for delivering its goals for special education.”
Fórsa represents more than 20,500 staff in schools and early education, as well as clerical, administrative, management staff in institutes of technology and education and training boards.
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