Much like mainstream schools, there are a few different types of special schools that have different methodologies. Taking religion out of the argument (for once) I don’t understand why there are more than one type of special school model out there.
Between Abacus, Scoil Sinéad, Saplings, The Red Door, to name a few, there is really no reason to have all these variants that have a handful of schools each rather than everyone singing from the same hymn sheet.
To be fair to the Special School model (minus the faith aspect – sorry I said I wouldn’t mention it again!) is the best model and should be the template to build upon. Obviously huge investment is needed to support Special Schools but they would have more pull if there weren’t these tiny interest groups out there fighting from the same piece of pie.
