SNA Concerns Over Role Changes and Impact on Students' Support

A long-serving Special Needs Assistant (SNA) has raised significant concerns over recent changes to the role of SNA staff, warning that many children will no longer receive the support they need under the new guidelines. Claire, who has worked as an SNA for 18 years, has voiced her frustration on todays Morning Mix, that while the job has evolved to meet the growing needs of students, the official role description has remained outdated. According to Claire, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) review has overlooked key aspects of the SNA role, especially in relation to children with behavioral and medical needs. The changes have caused particular concern as they appear to exclude children who would have previously received support for behavioral difficulties. "Six months ago, children with these needs were recognized as requiring primary care support, but now it seems they’ve been forgotten," Claire said.  Claire explained that a typical day for an SNA involves helping children manage a range of challenges, from regulating emotions to supporting medical care needs and facilitating social interactions. "Every child has different needs, and as an SNA, you're constantly adapting to ensure those needs are met," she explained. However, with the new changes, Claire expressed concern that children who don't have medical needs but require assistance for behavioral or social challenges could fall through the cracks. Despite her passion for the role and her commitment to supporting the children she works with, Claire raised questions about the government's commitment to properly supporting SNA staff. "We want to help all the children who need us, but we need our roles to be recognized for the full extent of the work we do," Claire said. "We’re not asking for anything extra; we just want the role to reflect the reality of what we do day in, day out." Claire also criticized the recent review process, suggesting that it has ignored the real, day-to-day needs of children in schools. While she acknowledged that the government and unions like Forsa are pushing for some changes, she remains concerned that they don’t go far enough to address the needs of all students. She called on the government to be more transparent about what SNA roles entail and to ensure that no child is left behind. The issue of SNAs feeling undervalued by the government is widespread, according to Claire. While she personally feels supported by her colleagues and school, she believes the broader perception of SNA roles is skewed by policymakers who fail to understand the full scope of their work. "We’re constantly told that we’re valued, but the reality is that we need tangible recognition in the form of clear role definitions and support for all the children we help," Claire stated.   "Let us do our job and acknowledge what we’re doing every day," she said. "We want to make a difference in the lives of the children we support, and the government needs to recognize that." She ended by calling on Minister McEntee and the NCSE to take action and make the necessary updates to the role of SNA staff so they can continue to help all students who need them.