The ERC provides ongoing support to the Department of Education in the analysis and modelling of data for specific programmes.
Special Education Teacher (SET) Allocation Model
The Special Education Teacher (SET) allocation model has been in place since 2017, based on the recommendations set out in the 2014 National Council for Special Education (NCSE) report Delivery for Students with Special Educational Needs: A better and more equitable way.
The Department of Education engages the Educational Research Centre (ERC) to inform decision-making related to the model, to implement Department-determined revisions, and to calculate resulting allocations of special education teaching hours. The ERC, integrating data from various sources, runs the resource allocation model under the direction of the Department/NCSE Steering Group.
In late 2022, the Department commenced a review of the SET model to ensure that it meets the changing needs in the area of special education. The first allocations under the revised model were released in February 2024. The review of the model will be an ongoing process, as outlined in Circulars 0002/2024 and 0003/2024. Specifically, the two Circulars indicate that “[t]he department, along with stakeholders, are cognisant that the model needs to continue to evolve so that the SET allocations process takes into account new or improved data sources and other changes within the school system. The department is very much aware that additional data is available in individual schools which may not be available consistently across all schools and a key focus of the roadmap is to develop an accurate and verifiable system to capture such data. A phased high level plan has been compiled to further enhance the model over the coming years”.
As set out in Circulars 0002/2024 and 0003/2024, revised allocations will be made on an annual basis.
- For primary schools: Circular 0002/2024
- For post-primary schools: Circular 0003/2024
- For additional information on SET allocation, visit ie – Special Education Teacher Allocation 2024/2025 explained
Previous strands of data analysis have included the assessment of levels of disadvantage, and analysis of the 2013 ICT Census of Schools.