The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) supports an inclusive education system that enables children and adults with special educational needs to achieve their potential. One of our key functions is to provide the Minister for Education and Skills with expert, independent, evidence-informed policy advice on special education for children and adults. In 2012, we were requested to provide policy advice on how students with special educational needs should, in the future, be supported in schools.
Our advice is informed by the following six principles:
Principle 1: All children, irrespective of special educational need, are welcome and able to enrol in their local schools.
Principle 2: All educational supports are allocated equitably to schools in line with the educational needs of students.
Principle 3: All students with special educational needs have access to available educational supports in line with their needs.
Principle 4: Students with special educational needs have an individualised assessment which informs teaching and learning and forms one part of an ongoing and cyclical process of assessment, intervention and review of outcomes.
Principle 5: Available resources are used to maximum effect to drive improved outcomes for children; State services work together to achieve this.
Principle 6: Parents’ role as the natural and primary educators of the child is respected.