The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has just completed a review of the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Scheme in Ireland, and is available for download from their website. The role of an SNA is to support a child who has special educational needs who may struggle to take part in school activities with. These …
How Can I Apply for a Special Needs Assistant (SNA)? Read More »
Research continues to tell us that we must view ‘challenging behaviour’ as a way in which the child is trying to communicate their needs with us. It has been suggested that we must move away from using the term ‘challenging behaviour’ and instead view the child’s responses as reactions to the environment. If we begin …
How can My Child Be Supported if They’re Having a Meltdown? Read More »
Your child’s teacher may already be aware of autistic children’s sensory needs. However, if your child does have exceptional needs, then it is important that you discuss these with their teacher. Sharing the information and resources below with your child’s teacher will help them understand the importance of allowing them to stim. Among the differences …
How can I Explain My Child’s Sensory Needs to their New Teacher? Read More »
If your child doesn’t want to go back to school, it’s important to talk about the reasons why they feels this way openly and honestly. Once you have established the reasons for their not wanting to go back to school, you can begin to address them. For example, your child may not want to return …
What can I Do if my Child Doesn’t Want to go Back to School? Read More »
We all struggle getting back into our regular routine after holidays and for autistic children, who we know often experience difficulty in understanding even the slightest change to their routine, this can be especially difficult. Whether your child is starting school for the first time, or moving to a new stream, the most important advice …
How can I help Ease My Child Back into the School Routine from Home? Read More »
There is a wide range of resources available to support parents and children on this exciting journey. The only danger is that there is so much material available, that doing an internet-search becomes overwhelming and sifting through the multiple resources available can be exhausting. It is important also to understand that many of the resources …
What Resources are Available to Support Families on their Transitions in School? Read More »
It is a really good idea and absolutely essential to arrange a meeting with your child’s teacher, before your child starts school or when your child is moving onto another stream in the school. Building positive and open communication with your child’s school is important. Communication is a two-way street and sharing information with your …
Is it a Good Idea to Arrange a Meeting with their Teacher? If so, What Should I Ask? Read More »
Parents and families are preparing their children for school from the day they are born and not just before the September when they start school! From the moment children are born, and even before that, children are communicating with, and absorbing information from the environment around them. Your child has benefited from being in a …
Are there Things I can do at Home to Prepare my Child for Starting School? Read More »
Starting school is one of the biggest events in both a family member’s and a child’s life. All benefit from advice and support when starting a new school. There is so much information out there that it can overwhelming sometimes just to know where to start. Dr Emer Ring is the Head of the Department …
What are the Most Important Things to Consider when Choosing a School for my Child? Read More »
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