Summer education programme

The Summer Programme provides educational supports during the summer to children with special needs and those at most risk of educational disadvantage.

The Summer Programme 2023 includes:

• School-based summer programme for children with special educational needs and children who are at risk of educational disadvantage. It includes children in special classes, special schools and mainstream schools
• Home-based provision for children with complex needs (where a school-based programme is not available)
• Summer camps in DEIS schools focusing on numeracy and literacy

All primary schools and post-primary schools including DEIS schools have the opportunity to provide a summer programme for mainstream pupils with complex needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage.

The Summer Programme is based on the July Provision which was delivered to children with special educational needs in previous years by the Department of Education.

The following children qualify for the school-based programme:

• Children in a special school or a special class
• Children in mainstream classes in schools who are accessing the highest level of the continuum of support. This includes children with autism, Down syndrome, sensory impairments, and certain other disabilities

You can find more information about who qualifies for the school-based summer programme.

Priority places

Schools will give first place on the school-based programme to students with complex needs in special classes and mainstream classes. The remaining places will be given on the basis of need and availability.

Remaining places

When the priority places have gone, the remaining places may be offered to:

• Children identified by the school as being most at risk of educational disadvantage and early school leaving
• Children accessing Special Education Teacher (SET) or Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support
• Children from Traveller and Roma communities
• Children who have recently arrived from Ukraine and other countries who need support with English language or integration

You can find more information about who qualifies for the school-based summer programme.

All primary schools and post-primary schools have the opportunity to provide a summer programme for mainstream pupils with complex needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage.

The programme will take place for a set number of weeks in the child’s school during the school summer holidays.

You should contact your child’s school to find out about its summer programme.

Special school

All special schools have the opportunity to provide a summer programme. The programme will take place for a set number of weeks in the child’s school during the school summer holidays.

Contact your child’s school to find out about their summer programme.

If your child’s school is not providing a school-based summer programme, or is unable to offer your child a place, contact the Summer Programme National Coordinator, email: schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie. They will help your child access the school-based summer programme in their own school or at another location.

If your child cannot get a place on a school-based summer programme, they may access the home-based programme.

You should contact your child’s school about the summer programme.

You can find more information on the special school summer programme.

The home-based summer programme is only available to children with complex special educational needs who are in a special school or special class. You can apply for the home-based programme if your child’s school is not running a summer programme or it is unable to offer your child a place.

If your child qualifies for the home-based summer programme, they will get 10 hours support per week for 4 weeks.

You can apply for the home-based summer programme through your child’s school.

You should not start a home-based programme until the Department of Education has confirmed that your child qualifies for the home-based summer programme.

In 2023, the home-based programme allows a teacher to tutor a group of up to 3 children. Previously, the home-based programme was only offered as one to one or siblings’ tuition.

If approved by the Department, a private group provider may provide for four or more children.

You can find more about the home-based summer programme.

All DEIS schools can run a school-based summer programme. DEIS primary schools may run literacy and numeracy camps for children in addition to a school-based summer programme.

Literacy and numeracy camps are for children who are considered by the school to have the greatest level of need. Each camp is for 1 week and provides 4 hours of instruction each day. The summer camps also provide well-being and school engagement programmes for children at risk of educational disadvantage. The camps can be run through English or Gaeilge.

Primary schools can allocate places to children of any age, including sixth class, and can choose children who would most benefit from the programme.

You can read information for parents about the school-based programme and DEIS summer camps.

If you normally use the special education needs (SEN) transport scheme, it may be provided. If SEN transport services are not available, you can apply for grant funding after your child has completed the programme.

The Department’s School Transport Scheme will not run during the summer programme. If your child normally uses the School Transport Scheme, your school may make local transport arrangements. You should contact your school for more details.

You should contact your child’s school about its school-based summer programme.

You can get more information about the Summer Programme from the Department of Education and at gov.ie/summerprogramme.

The Summer Programme helpline will operate Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, call 0906 484292.

If you have any questions about the school-based programme you can contact your child’s school or email schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie