1097. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update for a child (details supplied) regarding the transition to primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59642/26]

The Department of Education and Youth (DEY) and its agencies recognise the critical importance of ensuring that the transition from one educational setting to the next is supported.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is a statutory body of the Department of Education. The NCCA has worked with preschools and primary schools to develop the Mo Scéal: Moving from Preschool to Primary templates.

Mo Scéal means ‘my story’ and the templates help to tell the story of the child’s learning and development. This information will be shared with parents and, with their consent, with the primary school. There is no requirement to use the Mo Scéal templates. They are instead a resource which preschools and schools may find helpful as they collaborate in supporting young children and their families at this key transition. As transition is a process over many months, ideas for fun and engaging activities are also available. Many of these ideas come from preschool practitioners and primary school teachers.

Additionally, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for students with special educational needs.

The NCSE has developed guidelines to support parents of children with special educational needs during big changes in their child’s educational journey.

These guidelines can help you guide your child when they are:

– Starting school for the first time.

– Moving to a new school setting like a special school.

– Preparing for life after school.

This information can be accessed at [www.ncse.ie].