Inclusive Research in Irish Schools - Policy Implementation and Provision
This project, funded by the National Council for Special Education, aims to examine how inclusive education policy is being implemented in Irish schools, analyze the provision made for students with special educational needs, and investigate the experiences of students and families. The research methods include literature review, surveys, focus groups, and case studies in primary, post-primary, and special schools. The total data set combines interviews, documents, observations, photographs, videos, and website data.
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Presentation Transcript
Inclusive Research in Irish Schools Richard Rose & Michael Shevlin
Research aims Provide an understanding of how inclusive education policy is being implemented Examine the provision made by schools in addressing special educational needs of pupils Investigate experiences of pupils and families in relation to provision and outcomes Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Methods Review of Irish and international literature Electronic survey of a representative sample of schools Focus groups with service providers and support groups Case studies developed in 10 primary, 10 post- primary and 4 special schools Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Parents Pupils Teachers Resource/ Principal/Dep SNAs Other professionals support teachers uty Principal Primary Schools 1 18 2 3 6 1 3 0 2 5 7 7 2 2 3 0 3 7 6 5 3 1 5 0 4 6 7 8 5 1 6 0 5 8 8 12 1 2 4 0 6 3 4 3 4 1 3 0 7 4 2 4 4 1 2 0 8 2 6 3 0 1 2 0 9 6 4 6 4 1 5 0 10 6 6 4 1 1 3 1
Parents Pupils Teachers Resource/ Principal/De SNAs Other professionals support puty teachers Principal Post Primary Schools 11 4 3 6 2 2 4 2 12 6 6 5 4 1 0 1 13 4 4 1 3 1 2 1 14 6 7 4 2 2 1 0 15 5 7 4 3 2 2 2 16 3 5 5 4 2 3 4 17 3 3 3 1 1 2 0 18 6 6 5 5 1 2 0 19 4 5 3 5 1 1 2 20 4 5 2 1 1 2 2 Special Schools 21 7 1 4 0 2 4 3 22 5 5 3 0 2 4 1 23 1 5 3 1 1 4 2 24 3 6 4 0 1 4 0
TOTAL DATA SET COMBINED PRIMARY, SPECIAL AND POST-PRIMARY SCHOOLS Interviews 943 Documents 1151 Observations 134 Photographs/ pictures 269 Video 9 Website 27 Total Data Set 2533
Case studies Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Key findings Policy Provision Experience Outcomes Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Policy Most schools have special needs policies Very variable & little indication of how school is moving towards more inclusive provision School admission and enrolment policies recognise need to make provision for diverse learners These policies often have clauses limiting access for those with complex needs Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Provision (1) Dedicated SEN teams less in evidence in post primary schools Assessment process for resource allocation problematic Withdrawal model of support most in evidence SNAs seen as valuable resource by schools and parents As pupils get older support from SNAs needs to evolve Therapeutic provision where available valued by schools and parents though access problems Special schools very positive relationships developed with therapeutic services Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Provision (2) Behaviour support from NEPS, NBSS, SESS valued and seen as effective Role of SENO appreciated by schools and some examples of collaborative working relationships Many class/subject teachers unsure about how to support children with SEN Limited differentiation of curriculum in evidence Need for CPD recognised as urgent Many pupils exempted from Irish but little discussion of future implications Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Provision (3) Strong emphasis on social aspects of curriculum in special schools Difficulties accessing appropriate accreditation for some pupils with ID in Senior Cycle Many schools have developed IEPs but huge variation in quality and implementation particularly in pupil/parental involvement Special schools highly developed IEPs CPD provided by SESS highly valued where accessed by schools Limited interaction special and mainstream schools Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Experiences Majority of parents satisfied with academic/social experiences of their children Home-school interactions generally seen as positive particularly in primary schools Some evidence of parental dissatisfaction with mainstream expressed in transfer to special provision at post primary age Transition primary to post-primary well managed Post school placement can be problematic particularly for some pupils with ID Pupils generally happy in school though increased awareness of challenges at post primary age Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Outcomes Difficult to assess pupil progress given inconsistency in incorporating assessment results into IEPs and inappropriate nature of some assessments for these pupils While pupils make academic progress in primary it is evident that by end of primary they have fallen behind their peers Social outcomes appear more positive as pupils get older though some pupils with EBD or ASD experience persistent difficulties Most pupils in sample had achieved Junior Certificate certification (mainly at Ordinary level) Pupils who transferred to special from mainstream had settled well and parents were generally satisfied Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Outcomes for primary school pupils with special educational needs Progress from Less than Achieved satisfactory Less than satisfactory Satisfactory to or very satisfactory progress in respect of satisfactory in respect achievement in respect outcomes at visit 2 of outcomes from visit of outcomes by visit 2 1 to visit 2 Attainment 31/53 45/53 8/53 Engagement 5/53 35/53 18/53 Happiness 3/53 42/53 11/53 Independence 18/53 45/53 8/53 Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Outcomes for special school pupils with special educational needs Progress from Less than Achieved satisfactory or Less than satisfactory Satisfactory to very satisfactory progress in respect of satisfactory in respect achievement in respect outcomes at visit 2 of outcomes from visit of outcomes by visit 2 1 to visit 2 Attainment 5/18 13/18 5/18 Engagement 5/18 12/18 6/18 Happiness 8/18 16/18 2/18 Independence 7/18 10/18 8/18 Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Outcomes for post-primary school pupils with special educational needs in the case study schools Progress from Less than Achieved satisfactory Less than satisfactory Satisfactory to or very satisfactory progress in respect of satisfactory in respect achievement in respect outcomes at visit 2 of outcomes from visit of outcomes by visit 2 1 to visit 2 Attainment 11/48 45/48 3/48 Engagement 8/48 43/48 5/48 Happiness 5/48 45/48 3/48 Independence 3/48 41/48 6/48 Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Implications of research (1) At systemic level Failure to fully implement EPSEN Act (2004) causing serious difficulties at school level EPSEN Act needs to be fully implemented Difficulties with assessing progress and outcomes Inclusive assessment approach needs to be developed at national and school level Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Implications of research (2) At school level Exclusionary clauses need to be removed Guidance for schools in providing appropriate information to parents particularly at crucial transition points Review of use of withdrawal as dominant model of support SNAs included as part of collaborative team and SNA support reviewed as children get older Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Implications of research (3) At the level of Continuing Professional Development Ensure greater numbers of class/subject teachers can acquire necessary pedagogical skills Focused CPD to support development of IEPs and differentiated teaching approaches Demonstration sites where good practice in team teaching is evident Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Implications of research (4) Support from external agencies Adequate resources provided to fully implement Progressing Disability Services in establishing school level therapeutic teams Management and delivery of assessments needs to be re-configured to support recommendations from Working Group (2014) Co-ordinated approach from agencies supporting interventions in schools particularly in the area of behaviour management Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
Final thoughts Recognition of Major policy initiatives and investment Greater school commitment to inclusive practice Current barriers to developing inclusive learning environments Are we as a society and more importantly we as education stakeholders prepared to take the next steps towards establishing inclusive learning environments as the norm? Project IRIS (Inclusive Research in Irish Schools) is funded by the National Council for Special Education Web: www.projectiris.org | Email: info@projectiris.org
