Special classes and special schools: how a place works
How children with additional needs get a place in a special class or special school in Ireland: the NCSE's Parents Notify form, the eligibility letter, and applying to schools.
Updated 6 October 2026
Most children with additional needs go to a mainstream class, with support from special education teachers and, where needed, special needs assistants. Some children need a smaller setting: a special class in a mainstream school, or a special school. Here's how a place in one works.
1. Tell the NCSE through Parents Notify
The first time you look for a special class or special school place, you complete the National Council for Special Education's online Parents Notify form. You'll need your child's PPS number, your Eircode, and the professional report that recommends a special class or special school, plus a Student Support Plan if your child has one.
For places in the 2027/28 school year, the NCSE began processing forms on 1 September 2026 and keeps accepting them after that. Send it as early as you can.
2. Talk to your local SENO
A Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) reviews what you sent. They may contact you for more information, talk you through the criteria and tell you about placement options near you. They let you know the outcome in writing.
3. Get your letter of eligibility
If your child meets the criteria, the NCSE sends a letter of eligibility. Schools ask for it when you apply. If you already have one from a previous year, you don't need to complete Parents Notify again.
4. Apply to the schools
Parents Notify is not an application to a school. You still apply to each school you'd like, following its admission policy. The letter of eligibility doesn't guarantee a place, so apply to more than one if you can.
See the special schools in your county on our special schools list. Many mainstream schools also have special classes, so ask the schools near you whether they have one that suits your child.
Sources
- NCSE: Parents Notify, special class and special school placement
- NCSE: Frequently asked questions for parents
- Citizens Information: Special class places deadline
Rules and rates change. Check the official source before you rely on a detail, and tell us at [email protected] if something's out of date.