Blog
Teacher Planning for Special Classes and Special Schools in Ireland
Updated September 2025
Guidance on preparation for teaching and learning was released in 2021. The Guidance recognition that “Preparation for teaching and learning involves invisible, visible and recorded preparation which can take place at the same time as well as before, during and after teaching and learning”. The Guidance emphasises that all 3 of these aspects of preparation are equally valued.
What this means is that peparation for teaching and learning includes ALL of the activities undertaken by the teacher in their preparation for teaching, not just their planning/ paperwork. Other activities which are considered preparation are collaboration with colleagues, engagement with curriculum supports, teacher reflection, as well as the learning environment and teaching resources the teacher has prepared.
You can read more about the Guidance in my summary blog post here. The current post will focus on the recorded preparation i.e. written documentation, only.
What recorded preparation/ planning is needed in a special/ autism class?
A special school/class teacher needs to have the following:
- Class timetable
- Student support file (which includes the child’s School Support Plus and care needs plan, checklists such as those from NEPS, assessment records, professional reports, and any other necessary/ relevant documentation such as an IBP.)
- A long-term recorded preparation document for each curriculum subject
- Short term recorded preparation
- Cuntas míosúil
I will give more details about each of these 5 areas below:
- Class Timetable
- The teacher needs to prepare a timetable for themselves and the SNAs who work with their class (the school principal or SENCo may also be involved in creating the SNA timetables, but usually it is up to the class teacher to plan the best use of time for the children and staff in the special class).
- All of the curriculum subjects need to be included in the timetable and they need to have the correct time allocations as per the DoES requirements.
- Time for tidying up, eating etc. should not be included on the timetable. They should be included as SPHE and OT exercises should be listed as PE.
- Literacy and numeracy should be timetabled daily.
- The children in the class should cover all of the curriculum subjects, although given the complex needs of the children involved and the time they need to spend on regulation and working on their individual targets, it is most often impossible to timetable this is in the same way as would happen in mainstream. The most useful approach would be to dedicate time each day to “integrated learning” where the children cover many subject areas at once through integrated play-based learning in small groups or stations.
- It is also important to note that as per circular 0054/2022 students in special schools and in special classes in mainstream schools can be exempted from studying Irish without having to make a formal application and holding a Certificate of Exemption. This doesn’t mean that they won’t study Irish, but that if the parents are in agreement then a decision can be made to focus on their priority learning needs instead. If all of the parents in the class are in agreement that their children will not study Irish, then the teacher doesn’t need to timetable Irish lessons.
- I have a Special Classs Timetable Guide and Example availalbe which may be of assistance here.
- Student Support File
The Student Support File consists of the following:
- A School Support Plus (with care needs) plan – Guidelines on completing this are below
- Checklists such as those from NEPS which can be download for free from teachingplans.ie
- Assessment records – The teacher’s own assessments, and/ or assessments such as the VB-MAPP/ ABLLS (the NCSE offer courses in how to administer these tests)
- Copies of professional reports e.g.. Psychologist, OT, SLT, Physiotherapist
- An individual behaviour plan (if needed – See the SESS Behaviour Resource Bank)
- Any other relevant information e.g. allergies, attendance etc.
School Support Plus (with care needs) Planning
- Each child in the special class needs an individual long-term plan
- Traditionally, this was in the format of an Individual Education Plan (IEP). However, since 2017 there has been a move towards using the NEPS Support File format.
- The 2024 NCSE SNA Deployment Tootlkit suggests using an integrated SSP+ and care needs plan (rather than having a separate SSP+ plan and PPP).
- Children in a special class will be on the highest level of support in the school which is School Support Plus.
- I have a comprehensive guide on how to complete long term planning using the School support format which you can download for free here. I also have a sample completed School Support Plus and Care needs plan here.
- Long-Term Subject Recorded Preparation
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- The intended learning for the children should be draw from the age-appropriate primary school curriculum (or PP curriculum).
- While you will prioritise particular Learning Outcomes based on the needs, interests and abilities of the children, ensure that children have the opportunity to engage with the learning described in all the Learning Outcomes across the curriculum over the course of their time in primary school.
- A thematic approach to planning can be very useful.
- I have a comprehensive guide to completing long term subject plans for special class teachers (as well as sample plans) available here.
- Short-Term Recorded Preparation
- Special/ autism class teachers also complete short term recorded preparation. The school should decide if these are required weekly or fortnightly. Teachers undergoing probation/ Droichead will complete weekly short term recorded preparation.
- The Curriculum Access Tool (CAT-GLD) can be used to identify appropriate learning experiences for children with learning difficulties.
- I have a very comprehensive short term recoreded prepration resource for special class teachers available here.
- Cuntas Míosúil
- The cuntas míosúil is a monthly report given to the principal which outlines the work actually covered. Some schools will have a specific template for this, but I find the fastest way is to simply tick the content that has been covered on the short-term plan and to write a teacher reflection. I include space for this on my short term templates.
Summary
The following recorded preparation is needed for an autism/ special class teacher:
- A class timetable
- Long terms for each subject area
- A Student Support File for each child
- Short term recorded preparation
- A cuntas míosúil to be given to the principal each month
I also have a special class planning bundle which contains all of my resources for these 5 required areas at a discount. You can view it by clicking on the image below.
I hope this has been of assistance. If you have any queries or suggestions, please leave a comment below!
