Special educational needs school leavers working as classroom assistants

Classroom assistants Dan McKee and Savanna Presho are both aged 20 and have Down’s syndrome.

Along with 22-year-old Ben McCreight, who has a learning disability, they are working hard to make a positive difference to pupils at two primary schools in Bangor, County Down.

Dan and Ben work as classroom assistants in Clandeboye Primary School, while Savanna works in Bloomfield Primary School.

The principal of Bloomfield PS, Rebecca Bishop, told BBC News NI that Savanna “brings out the best in our pupils.”

BBC News NI visited the school to see her at work in the school’s polytunnel, helping the pupils learn about how to grow flowers, plants and vegetables.

She also works with pupils in the school’s nurture unit and P1, supporting the teacher.

“She’s fitted in here like she’s part of the furniture,” Ms Bishop told BBC News NI.

“Savanna comes in here and just enjoys being part of our everyday.

“She brings that natural empathy which all children have within them, and that willingness to engage and to work with new people.

“It’s nice for them to see somebody different coming into school and have that opportunity to shine with their own personalities.”

At Clandeboye Primary School, principal Julie Thomas says Dan and Ben working in the school every Monday had made a difference to everyone.

Dan said he loved the children and staff in the school and looked forward to work every Monday.

“We help the kids doing PE and after that doing some work,” he said.

Ms Thomas added: “Dan and Ben have been working with P1 and in our nurture room, The Nest, to help support the children with their practical activities and their social activities and also their time outside in the playground.

“Within a very short time, we’ve seen their confidence grow.

“They have grown in how they’re seen within the building.

“They’ve made really good relationships with the staff as well as the children and we just see them as part of our staff now in Clandeboye Primary School.”

At Clandeboye, Dan and Ben were role models, Ms Thomas said.

“With us working now fully with children who have additional needs, I think it’s important for the families of those children to see that there are other experiences once the children go beyond school life themselves and on into adulthood,” she said.

Parents and school principals have highlighted how support for young people with special educational needs (SEN) ends when they leave school.

Some have campaigned for to change that and introduce statutory support until the age of 25.

It is a situation that Robert McGowan recognises.

He runs Strides Day Opportunity Service in Bangor, which provides work experience and other classes for young adults who have come through special education.

Mr McGowan arranged Dan, Ben and Savanna’s placements as classroom assistants with the two primary schools.

“Dan started in special education as a boy of maybe five or six, so he’s had 13 or 14 years in special education,” he said.

“Then the provision stops. Once they reach the adult sector, there seems to be a gap there.

“All that effort, all that consistency, all that time that’s been spent that can ease off and almost dry up.”

Mr McGowan also said it was important to provide “meaningful” work experience for young adults with disabilities.