Offaly schools are facing a 'crisis' around Summer Provision SNA staffing levels
Concern at reduced Summer Programme SNA allocations to schools
Concern at emerging reports from schools across Offaly indicating that their Summer Provision programmes are being destabilised by unexpectedly reduced SNA allocations issued by the Department of Education hs been expressed by Deputy Carol Nolan.
Deputy Nolan said she has been contacted by principals who have built strong, long standing expertise in supporting autistic children and those with complex needs. These schools operate environments where one to one assistance is a core component of safe, effective practice. For years, their staffing levels have reflected this reality:
“This year, however, several schools are being advised that their established SNA requirements will not be recognised,” Deputy Nolan said. “They are being assessed as if they were operating standard need settings, despite having documented, high complexity profiles. That shift has immediate operational consequences.”
She said schools are now warning that they may be unable to proceed with their Summer Provision programmes, even though families have organised their routines, work commitments and childcare around the expectation that the programme would run. Staff have also prepared for continuity based support that many children rely on to maintain stability.
“What principals are describing to me is a situation where the allocation model being applied simply does not correspond to the needs in their classrooms. When predictable one to one support requirements are treated as optional or discretionary, the entire structure of a programme like Summer Provision becomes unworkable.”
Deputy Nolan said the issue is not confined to one school or one area, but reflects a broader pattern. She also noted that the pressure on schools to accommodate rising demand for autism supports has been widely acknowledged, and that the current allocation decisions appear to be out of step with that reality:
“There is a growing disconnect between what schools are required to deliver and the resources they are being given to deliver it. Schools are being asked to run programmes that depend on stable staffing, yet the staffing is being withdrawn or reduced at the very moment it is most needed.”
Deputy Nolan confirmed she is engaging directly with the Minister for Education and senior departmental officials to seek an immediate review of the contested allocations:
“My priority is to ensure that schools receive decisions that reflect the actual needs of their pupils,” she said. “Summer Provision is not an optional add on for many families — it is a vital support. The Department must act quickly to restore certainty and ensure that schools can operate safely and responsibly.”