{"id":6659,"date":"2025-11-24T17:12:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T17:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stapolinetns.ie\/?page_id=6659"},"modified":"2026-02-16T12:42:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T12:42:45","slug":"autism-classes-campaign","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.stapolinetns.ie\/index.php\/autism-classes-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Autism Classes Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Stapolin ETNS are campaigning for 2 additional autism classes<\/a> to meet the needs of children within our school and local community. The NCSE have informed us that our school is not considered a priority, despite us showing a clear need for these classes. 

We currently have 2 autism classes which are full. We have 8 children with eligibility letters in our mainstream classes who are waiting on an autism class space. On top of that we have 50 children on our waiting list, 20 of whom are in our immediate catchment area. 

2 more classes is 12 spaces. That would ensure that the 8 children in our mainstream have access to the supports the need to access their education, as well as offering remaining places to some of those on our waiting list. 

While we appreciate it\u2019s important that schools without autism classes are encouraged and supported to open them, the need in our own school is urgent and undeniable, and we don’t understand why both can’t happen at the same time.

Every child should have the chance to continue their education in the community where they\u2019ve already built friendships, feel safe, and have strong relationships with staff who know and understand them.

Please follow us on Instagram<\/a> for updates and news, as well as ways to get involved!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Media Coverage:<\/strong>

North Dublin primary school unable to open autism classes despite \u2018massive\u2019 local demand<\/a> – Irish Independent (9 Feb 2026)

Primary school in limbo over additional autism classes as department says no funding available<\/a> – The Journal (5 Feb 2026)

Local TDs continue fight for extra autism classes for Stapolin<\/a> – Dublin People (4 Feb 2026)

Baldoyle school continues fight for extra autism classes<\/a> – Dublin People (29 Jan 2026)

Dublin primary school let down by proposed solution to waiting list for autism classes<\/a> – Irish Independent (23 Jan 2026)

\u201cDisappointing\u201d that Stapolin ENTS didn\u2019t receive additional special class, says Heneghan<\/a> – Dublin People (13 Jan 2026)

Autism class shortages: Families say NCSE vacancy claims don\u2019t match reality on the ground<\/a> – Irish Examiner (29 Nov 2025)

Dublin Today Podcast with Elizabeth Hearst<\/a> (26 Nov 2025)

Stapolin ETNS take their campaign to the D\u00e1il<\/a> – Dublin Gazette (24 Nov 2025)

\u2018Time is of the essence\u2019 to provide more special education classes, says school principal in plea to government<\/a> – Irish Independent (20 Nov 2025)

Virgin Media News TV segment<\/a> (11 Nov 2025)

Local TDs call for extra autism classes for Stapolin Educate Together<\/a> – Dublin People (29 Oct 2025)

Principal with 50 autistic children on waiting list criticises Department of Education\u2019s \u2018disingenuous\u2019 solution<\/a> – Irish Independent (17 Oct 2025)

Special need places still at crisis point<\/a> – Dublin Gazette (29 Sep 2025)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stapolin ETNS are campaigning for 2 additional autism classes to meet the needs of children within our school and local community. The NCSE have informed us that our school is not considered a priority, despite us showing a clear need for these classes.  We currently have 2 autism classes which are full. We have 8 … Continue reading “Autism Classes Campaign”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6659","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stapolinetns.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stapolinetns.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stapolinetns.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stapolinetns.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stapolinetns.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6659"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.stapolinetns.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7041,"href":"https:\/\/www.stapolinetns.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6659\/revisions\/7041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stapolinetns.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}