New special school on the way for Enfield

A new special school will open in Enfield in 2024 in response to increasing numbers of students with learning needs it has been announced.

The Department of Education says the new school is part of advanced planning to meet the needs of students with special educational needs due to start school next September.

Local Fianna Fáil Senator, Shane Cassells, has welcomed the news.

Senator Cassells said: “It is absolutely excellent news that a new special school has been announced for Enfield. It will cater for young people with autism and complex learning needs up to 18 years of age, helping Meath pupils with special educational needs and their families achieve the best possible outcomes.

“I want to recognise the efforts of everybody in Meath involved in supporting the continued establishment of special classes and special schools. Having an education system that works for all and ensures that every child has access to a welcoming and inclusive environment to learn and flourish is a top priority of Fianna Fáil in Government."

Cassells goes on to say that the precise location of the new special school, the admission process and the number of places to be offered for the 2024/25 school year will be confirmed very shortly by Minister for Education Norma Foley, and her Department.

Planning for the establishment and opening of the new special schools will begin immediately. This will include a determination of the size of the school required so that the necessary staff recruitment, school policy development and related arrangements can be put in train. This will also include ongoing communication with the families concerned.

Information on special schools and the list of mainstream schools with special classes, including new classes for the current 2023/24 school year, the coming 2024/25 school year, and the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie.

The NCSE will continue to update the list as more classes are sanctioned ahead of the 2024/25 school year.