Table of Contents
Overview of Programme
The Supplementary Programme announced by the DES is to facilitate supporting the education and/or care needs of pupils with complex needs.
The scheme is only a temporary measure during the period of school closures and is due to run between 11th Feb and the end of April 2021. For individual pupils it will be a 4 week programme consisting of 20 hours in total.
The scheme will supplement existing schooling provided remotely, and can only be delivered outside of the normal school day or at weekends.
As a supplementary programme it is totally voluntary for teachers and SNAs to participate.
Parents will need to engage tutors/SNAs directly in a private arrangement, but the DES will pay the tutors directly through their payroll systems on receipt of completed claim forms.
Who is eligibile to apply?
Primary Level
- Pupils enrolled in special schools and special classes in primary schools.
- Pupils in mainstream schools who are accessing the highest levels of support. This includes pupils with Autism, Down syndrome, sensory impairments, and other disabilities.
- It will include any pupils who were identified as eligible for the July Provision summer programme of 2020.
- To ensure that pupils with exceptional needs due to school closures can benefit from the scheme, principals will have the flexibility to identify pupils that require the highest levels of additional support.
Post-Primary Level
- All students in special classes in post primary schools.
- Students in mainstream classes in post primary who are accessing the highest levels of continuum of support (Student support plus/for a few). This includes students with Autism, Down syndrome, sensory impairments, and other disabilities.
- Principals will have the flexibility to identify students that require the highest levels of additional support.