Post-Primary Special Educational Needs

As part of the broader redevelopment of senior cycle the work of the Post-Primary Special Educational Needs Development Group began in September 2022. The development group plays a key role in developing modules for students in senior cycle who follow a Level 1 or Level 2 Learning Programme at junior cycle. This group includes nominees of the education partners, the Department of Education and other key education agencies.

The following curricular areas and elective modules for Senior Cycle Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes have been approved for public consultation. The consultation period will run from Friday 28^th of March until 5pm on Friday the 9^th of May 2025.

The draft modules that will be consulted upon during this phase are:

The consultation involves in-depth engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders across Ireland. NCCA have also contacted schools to participate in school-based focus groups involving teachers, parents, students and school leaders.

We invite you to get involved and have your say on the modules.

If you are responding as an individual (teacher/parent/student/leader/teacher educator/lecturer/researcher), please complete the online survey by 5pm on Friday the 9^th of May.

Online Survey

If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, please complete the submission form and email to scconsultations@ncca.ie with ‘Senior Cycle Level 1 and Level 2 Consultation’ as the subject title by 5pm on Friday May 9th 2025.

Submission Form

Apply to attend the consultation event on the Personal Care modules on Thursday 1st of May 2025 in The Ashling Hotel, Dublin. Attendees will be contacted by email after the 18^th of April deadline. Places are limited therefore there is a maximum of two staff members per school and places are allocated on a first come, first served basis and we will endeavour to have as representative of a group as possible. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday the 18th of April at 5pm or once the spaces have been filled.

Consultation event application form

The feedback from this consultation will help to inform the work of the Development Group in refining the draft modules prior to final approval and publication.

NCCA established a Post-primary Special Education Development Group to undertake, in the first instance, the task of developing a series of modules for students in senior cycle who follow a Level 1/Level 2 Learning Programme at junior cycle. The group will also provide support for curriculum review and development related to Junior Cycle Level 1/Level 2 Learning Programmes. The work of the Development Group is, in general terms, agreed by the NCCA Board for Senior Cycle and by the Council.

The modules will be developed to support the realisation of the purpose and vision for a redeveloped senior cycle as set out the Senior Cycle Review: Advisory Report (NCCA, 2022). The guiding principles, as described in the Advisory Report, provide a touchstone for the Development Group as they undertake the task of preparing this series of modules at senior cycle.

The modules will be student-centred and age-, peer- and learning needs appropriate and contribute to students’ intellectual, social and personal growth and maturity. The level of the National Framework of Qualifications to which the modules would be aligned might vary as appropriate.

The design of the modules will be informed by research conducted by NCCA on the nature and design of curriculum specifications for the senior cycle stage of education. The development group will advise on the most appropriate time allocation for the modules. The first set of modules will be completed for Autumn 2024.

Development Group Meetings

A background paper and brief for the development of follow on modules for students following Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes was published in February 2023. This paper provides a background for the development of a series of modules and forms the basis for a consultation which sought to elicit the views of a range of interested parties, including teachers, school leaders, parents and students, to contribute to this curriculum development.

Background paper and brief for the development of follow on modules for students following Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes

A public consultation on the Background Paper and Brief took place in March and April 2023 and a report on the consultation was completed in September 2023.

Consultation report on the background paper and brief

A public consultation on the elective modules within the Senior Cycle Level 1 and Level 2 learning programmes took place from 6 January to 28 February 2025.

There are four curriculum areas at the heart of the Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes: Numeracy, Communication and Literacy, Personal Care and Electives. Each elective module is designed for approximately 60 hours of teaching time/class contact time. These draft elective modules that were consulted upon during this phase were:

From 14 February to 10 April 2024, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) consulted on a draft Programme Statement and draft curriculum areas for the Level 1 Senior Cycle Learning Programme and Level 2 Senior Cycle Learning Programme. The purpose of the consultation was to gather feedback which will help inform the work of the Post Primary Special Educational Needs Development Group in refining the draft curriculum areas and the draft Programme Statement prior to final approval and publication. These draft documents are available below:

Level 1 Senior Cycle Numeracy

The consultation report is available below:

Report on the consultation on the draft Programme Statement and curriculum areas for senior cycle Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes