This time two years ago, I was working as an SNA in a primary school. At the time, I was under no illusion as to what my job description was because my contract was in line Circular 0030/2014. I was employed, like all SNAs are currently employed, to assist in the care needs of pupils with disability in an educational context. The excellent class teachers who are qualified to teach are responsible, under that circular, for the education of all students in the classroom. That is the current SNA brief. On the ground, however, SNAs, myself included, worked way outside that brief to not just assist the child I was assigned to but also all of the other children in the classroom. Why? It is because SNAs, by their very nature, are kind, caring and helpful. We place children at the very centre of our days, just like teachers do in their teaching role. Classrooms in Ireland are positive spaces. It is important to put that on the record. The Irish school system is a good system whereby staff - be they SNAs, teachers, secretaries or caretakers - all care about the students that are in their schools. In light of the SNA reviews, I know that people were worried, anxious, upset and angry at the process. To be fair to the SENOs and the NCSE more broadly, they are doing their jobs in line with the circular. It states that all SNA allocations are subject to annual reviews. That is their brief. To be fair, the Department of Education, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, are fully aware that the circular is not reflective of the role of an SNA in 2026. A review of it has been ongoing for some time. The challenge relates to the difference in what an SNA is supposed to do versus what they actually do. I really look forward to the updated circular being published. For parents, SNAs and schools, the fact is that no cuts are being proposed, nor will they be. Crucially, no review will happen until after the publication of three crucial pieces of information on the SNA redeployment scheme, the SNA workforce development plan and the updated Circular 0030/2014. What we really need to see when that review comes out is that the parameters upon which allocations are decided must be much more reflective of the realities of the needs that are present in an Irish classroom as we approach 2030. My senior infant class sent me a lovely letter when I first got elected. They said that they hoped that my kind, caring and helpful SNA personality will help this country be better. Children, I am trying.

Sentiment score: 0.17