This submission has been prepared in response to the invitation of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth to contribute to its examination of Inclusive Education, including the allocation, role and training needs of Special Education Teachers (SETs) and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). The National Principals’ Forum (NPF) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this important examination. The NPF is an independent organisation, established in 2018, comprised of practising primary school principals across Ireland. Our purpose is to ensure that the operational realities of leading schools inform the development of education policy. School leaders fully support Ireland’s commitment to inclusive education and the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Every day, principals, teachers and Special Needs Assistants work to ensure that children with special education needs are welcomed, supported and enabled to participate meaningfully in school life.
