Information for Special Schools
This year the Special School Programme continues as a pilot initiative to ensure there is a real focus on supporting special schools. This programme has been designed and developed to ensure supports are targeted to enhance the availability of a school-based programme for pupils in special schools.
A Summer Programme National Coordinator has been appointed. This person will liaise with special schools, the department and education centres to facilitate the organisation of programmes.
A portal is available for teachers and SNAs to register their interest in working on a school based programme in a special school. Student teachers and students in relevant disciplines such as therapy, social care and nursing and others, including early childcare workers and carers, will also be able to register their interest in working on such programmes.
The length of the day is being reduced from the full school day to 10am – 2pm but the same daily rate will be paid to staff taking part. This again recognises the challenges associated with running the programme in a special school.
Online Registration Portal for Schools
Special schools that wish to participate in the 2025 Summer Programme must register on the department’s Special School Online Registration Portal.
The portal will be available soon after the launch of the programme to allow schools to consider what scale of programme they can run. The opening date of the portal will be communicated to schools with the appropriate link.
Following registration, sanction emails will issue to schools for each scheme that they have registered for outlining the resources that have been sanctioned.
The School-Based Registration Portal closing date is 11 April 2025.
Online registration for external staff recruitment
Schools can employ teachers and/or SNAs from outside of their school if the staff normally employed by the school are not available for any/all of the summer programme.
A portal on https://www.educationposts.ie/ will shortly be available for teachers and SNAs to register their interest in working on a school based programme in a special school. Students and others, including early childcare workers, will also be able to register their interest in working on such programmes. They will be able to submit preferences on location and availability. The rate payable to students and others, including early childcare workers and carers, will be the SNA rate of pay.
The Summer programme portal is now live on www.educationposts.ie
2025 Documentation
- Letter to principals, February 2025
- Summer Programe Overview 2025 – Special Schools
- Summer Programme Portal
Appendices
- Appendix A – Summer Programme Report Template
- Appendix B – Summer Programme Reflection on Learning
- Appendix C – Summer Programme Consultation Template for Parents
