Home News Laois Cllr welcomes ‘much-improved’ Summer Provision Programme for children

Laois Cllr welcomes ‘much-improved’ Summer Provision Programme for children

A Laois County Councillor has welcomed what she says is a ‘much-improved’ Summer Provision Programme for children with special needs and students in DEIS schools.

Cllr Thomasina Connell explained how Summer Provision 2020 will involve three strands with different options for parents, students and schools.

The first is in-school or home-based supports by teachers and SNAs to help prevent regression among children with special needs.

The second is an opportunity for all 890 DEIS schools to provide summer camps, including a numeracy and literacy programme for primary pupils and a programme of re-engagement for post-primary students.

While the third is Health Service Executive-led. It will aim to provide summer camp type supports to up to 1,200 children with complex needs.

The Portlaoise Cllr said: “Parents of children with special needs will find this programme much more suitable for their needs than that which was originally proposed.

“The aim of the Summer Provision Programme is to support families who have been impacted the most by the closure of schools caused by Covid19.

“Teachers and special needs assistants are being given the opportunity to offer provision in-school or in the home. For provision within schools, where possible, transport will be provided to support the programme and the relevant Departments are also finalising plans to provide the Schools Meals Programme for schools taking part.”

Information on the supports and on how to register are available by clicking here.

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