A special school for children with complex needs is taking legal action in a bid to prevent a boy with autism from being readmitted on the basis that his behaviour has put staff and students at risk. However, the school was directed last month by the Department of Education to arrange for his return to class after finding that his expulsion was not warranted. The school, which has 30 pupils, has a staffing ratio of 1:1 with 26 special needs assistants and five classroom teachers. In its findings, the appeals committee accepted that the safety of staff and students had been put at risk by the boy’s behaviour. However, the appeals committee concluded that all reasonable efforts to enable him to participate in and benefit from education had not been fully exhausted.

Source: The Irish Times February 08, 2021 03:00 UTC