'Coming close to the edge of a cliff': Parents forced to become campaigners so children receive school placements

A Cork mother has warned she feels her family are “coming close to the edge of a cliff” regarding future schooling for her 11-year-old daughter.

Patricia Delaney is part of a group of five parents looking for an “in betweener” class for their children, whose needs are not severe enough to qualify for a special school place but are too complex for mainstream secondary school. She fears children with mild learning disabilities are “falling between two stools”, with far fewer resources at secondary level than at primary.

Ms Delaney’s eldest daughter Grace was diagnosed with autism and a mild learning disability when she was three and a half, and first attended school in Aghada before being offered a place in their local school in Youghal.

She told The Echo that being in the school is “such a positive experience”.

“Her two younger siblings go to the same school as her, and she’s a part of her community. She walks down the street and people know her. Grace needs a differentiated or reduced curriculum and additional support — in Bunscoil Mhuire, she’s wonderfully supported by her teachers.”

Though she is in fourth class currently, her parents are already worried about the next steps.

“Already it’s absolutely terrifying to think about. There’s great provision of ASD [autism spectrum disorder] classrooms at primary level, but there’s nothing at all at post primary, so there’s a big break in continuity and Grace falls between two stools,” Ms Delaney said.

However, she and a group of parents have come together “looking for a continuation of the primary school system, an ASD classroom with one teacher, two [special needs assistants], and six students.”

Ms Delaney explained that there is huge stress for parents: “My husband and I have three children. We didn’t have to worry about where the other two would go to primary school, and we’re not concerned about them getting a place in secondary. When we got that place in our local school for Grace, it was like winning the lottery. Now it feels like we’re coming close to the edge of a cliff, we don’t know which way it’s going to go.

“Even if we get a place that we have to travel to, it will be in a special school, which won’t be suitable for her. We’d be taking away the place from another student and taking her out of the local community.

“As a parent, this fight isn’t just for Grace, it’s for the future. There seems to be no forward planning. We are putting this amount of ASD classes into primary schools and nothing in secondary schools. I have no doubt that there are parents in every county, every parish in Ireland, who are experiencing the same thing.”

The group have met with local TDs, and are planning another meeting this week which they hope to have education stakeholders at.

Cork East Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide said that the situation needed to be treated as an emergency: “Parents of children with additional needs are being forced to become campaigners for their children’s educational needs due a lack of forward planning by successive governments. The situation at secondary level is particularly critical. Many families are facing a high concentration of support from primary level being suddenly discontinued, or having to travel very long distances outside of their communities. The Government needs to treat this issue as an emergency and provide interim placements while new schools and extensions to schools are being built.”

A Department of Education spokesperson told The Echo that the department engages intensely with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in relation to forward planning for special education, which is “well underway ahead of the 2025/26 school year”.

“This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level,” the spokesperson said, adding that parents seeking special class placements for their children should contact the NCSE or their local special educational needs organisers.