{"id":2894,"date":"2019-06-13T05:21:26","date_gmt":"2019-06-13T05:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/?p=2894"},"modified":"2019-10-22T08:18:27","modified_gmt":"2019-10-22T08:18:27","slug":"ombudsman-for-children-expresses-concern-at-inappropriate-use-of-reduced-timetables-in-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/ga\/news\/ombudsman-for-children-expresses-concern-at-inappropriate-use-of-reduced-timetables-in-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Ombudsman for Children expresses concern at inappropriate use of reduced timetables in schools"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, will appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills on Thursday 13th<\/sup> June where he will express his concern at the inappropriate use of reduced timetables in schools.<\/p>\n

Speaking ahead of his appearance before the Committee Niall said:<\/p>\n

\u201cI am concerned about what I consider to be the inappropriate use of reduced timetables as an informal suspension to deal with behaviour that a school is finding difficult to manage in the classroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment the use of reduced timetables is invisible. There are no guidelines on its use, no guidance on recording its use and no external monitoring. Therefore there is no oversight of its use in individual schools.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnecdotal evidence would suggest that some cohorts of children including children with disabilities, children with emotional and behavioural difficulties or children from a different cultural background such the Traveller or Roma communities, are being disproportionately affected by the use of reduced timetables. With the current system it is impossible to determine if this is the case and to what extent these groups are being affected.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is important to highlight that reduced timetables are used as a positive intervention in exceptional circumstances to support children at a particularly difficult time when a full day at school may be an insurmountable challenge. This can be seen as a child-centred practice used to facilitate a child\u2019s education until they are able to return to school full time.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, even in these circumstances safeguards need to be put in place to ensure that the use of a reduced timetable is time-limited, in the best interests of the child and put in place without putting any pressure on the child\u2019s parents or guardian.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that Government should provide a statutory framework on the use of reduced timetables and that this practice should be monitored nationally to gather data. Where reduced timetables are being used inappropriately increased resources should be provided to the relevant bodies including the Educational Welfare Services (EWS), the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and the National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe prolonged use of reduced timetables as an exclusionary measure on children can have a serious and long-lasting impact. It may make them feel unwanted by the school community, they may be perceived as different by their peers, they may stop seeing school as a positive place and they may even drop out of school. It can also be very disruptive for family life. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed for the benefit of children and for schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

ENDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Note to Editors<\/p>\n