Summer education programme

What is the Summer 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 focussing 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 July Provision which was delivered to children with special educational needs in previous years by the Department of Education.

Who qualifies for the Summer Programme?

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 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.

School-based 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.

All special schools will also 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.

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

Home-based programme

The home-based programme is only available if your child’s school is not running a school-based programme or it does not have capacity to accommodate your child in the programme.

Details of the home-based programme 2023 have yet to be published by the Department of Education.

DEIS schools summer camp

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.

Can I get school transport during the Summer Programme?

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.

Further information

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