Understanding Special Class Provision in Ireland: Findings from a National Survey of Schools

Key findings: 1. A total of 7 per cent of primary schools and 24 per cent of post-primary schools operate special class(es), representing a significant increase in recent years. 2. A large share of special classes at primary level, particularly in recent years, are provided for children with autism. Special classes at post-primary vary much more in the types of needs provided for, in some cases including students without special educational needs. 3. Students in special classes typically spend most, if not all, of the week together in their own class setting and predominantly remain together across school years. Of concern at post-primary level, many special classes are assigned one teacher to cover all curricular areas. 4. At both primary and post-primary levels Irish is generally not taught in special classes. At post-primary level, schools rely heavily on the Junior Certificate School Programme and Leaving Certificate Applied programme in meeting the needs of special class students, raising questions about schools not in a position to offer these programmes.