Suspensions ‘crisis’ at Cork special school

Parents at a flagship special school in the Taoiseach’s
constituency, opened in a rush due to a shortage of school
places, warned recently the school has handed out suspensions
“like confetti”.


Opened by Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) in 2021,
Carrigaline Community Special School (CCSS) issued 17 official
suspensions out of a maximum student body of just 48 in three
years.


Parents at the school told the Irish Examiner that they believe
their children are being punished for behaviours linked to and
consistent with their conditions. They point to a lack of
in-school therapies, children being repeatedly sent home from
school, and a high level of staff turnover.


In response to queries from the Irish Examiner on the issues
raised, Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) said it “is aware
of the matters raised and has engaged intensively with parents
around their concerns”.


In a statement, Cork ETB said: “The care and welfare of our
students and their educational progress is always the number one
priority for Cork ETB and for our special schools.”


Irish Examiner Education Correspondent Jess Casey  describes
the issues on today’s episode of The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy
Podcast.


Read the story here: Suspensions ‘crisis’ at flagship special
school in Cork


Read Cork ETB’s full statement here: 'It wouldn’t be acceptable
in a mainstream school, so why should we have to take it?'


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