Input into new Education Therapy Service

The Department of Education and Youth and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are setting up a new therapy service called the Education Therapy Service (ETS).

The service will start in some special schools in the 2025/2026 school year and then into all special schools in the 2026/2027 school year. It is also planned that the service will be provided to mainstream schools in the 2028 school year. The ETS will support children to participate and engage in school life.

The Department is inviting parents and guardians to take part in exploratory conversations to share their ideas and hopes about the Education Therapy Service.

They are looking for parents or guardians who have children currently attending school.

Sessions will last between 20 and 30 minutes and can take place online using Microsoft Teams or Zoom. A team member will ask you some questions based on your experience as a parent. No technical knowledge is required, and it will feel like a conversation rather than an interview.

If you would like to take part, you can apply here.

More information on taking part in this programme is available here.

An overview of the Education Therapy Service is available here.