We are delighted to share this extremely important piece of research from Dr Sinéad Nic Aindriú and Professor Pádraig Ó Duibhir. This report, commissioned by Gaeloideachas, investigates the assessment and teaching resources that are essential for Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools to appropriately support students who have additional educational needs.

It is estimated that 9.4% of students who attend Irish-medium primary schools outside of Gaeltacht areas have a diagnosis of additional educational needs (AEN) (Nic Aindriú, Ó Duibhir, & Traves, 2020). It is very important to Gaeloideachas to commission research which will help us to ensure that a learning and teaching experience is available and that resources, programmes, assessment tools, and innovative interventions are available in students’ primary language of education and communication.

The majority of schools that completed a survey as part of this research stated that the lack of assessment and teaching resources through Irish to cater for the additional educational needs of their students was very challenging. Recommendations are made in Chapter 5 of the full report on future development in the area of assessment and resources for students with AEN learning through Irish. The key themes under which recommendations are made are external resources, literacy, language and communication, numeracy, and social and emotional development.

The recommendations made are based on national and international best practice in catering for students who have additional educational needs in the context of immersion education and those learning through their second language. Gaeloideachas will use the recommendations and results of this research in our advocacy on these issues when engaging with support organisations, State Departments and others to ensure equal opportunities for these students.

Gaeloideachas would like to thank Dr Sinéad Nic Aindriú and Professor Pádraig Ó Duibhir for their significant work to make this important research available, together with all participants who shared their experience and knowledge in this area.

The full report is available at this link

The executive summary is available in Irish here

The executive summary is available in English here