By Sarah O’mahony

Copyright independent

Today marks Ireland’s second national appreciation day dedicated to special needs assistants (SNAs), organised by the Fórsa trade union.

For three SNAs based at Portlaoise Educate Together National School in Laois, it’s a moment to take stock of the work they do.

The multi-denominational school has two autism classes called “Le Chéile” along with mainstream classes which students with autism also attend.

Terri Dutton, from Botswana, has worked at the school as an SNA for three years. Ms Dutton’s son Jordan (11), who has autism and attends one of the school’s autism classes, inspired her to retrain as an SNA.

“I knew that the role would be ideal for me to be able to help make a change and learn through it as well, and use my experience to help other kids,” she said.

It depends on what kind of day each child is having as to how much support I’m able to give

Currently, the SNA supports four to five children across two junior infant classes, which can be tough at times.

“It depends on what kind of day each child is having as to how much support I’m able to give,” Ms Dutton said.

“I think that’s one of the most challenging things as an SNA is sometimes you are so far stretched that if a student is very dysregulated and you need to help them, you might miss out on seeing someone else on that day.”

Despite the challenges, Ms Dutton feels supported by fellow staff and encouraged by the development she sees in the students she has had year-on-year.

SNA Alex Cathcart praises the “interesting and dynamic” environment where around 70pc of the student body is from a non-Irish background. The school has 13 SNAs and 50 teaching staff.

We’re a fantastic team

“We are growing year-on-year into a three-stream school, sited on a busy campus that we share with a Gaelscoil and a Church of Ireland school,” Mr Cathcart said.

Regina Lawlor, from Laois, also works as an SNA at Portlaoise Educate Together. Ms Lawlor, like Ms Dutton, believes SNAs succeed in the school because of it’s positive workplace environment.

“We’re a fantastic team and I think it’s the team behind us as well that helps us get on so well in our job,” she said. “And we all have one thing in common. We just want to do what’s best for the children.”

Ms Dutton says she is grateful for the “supportive network” of the school.

“It’s so important to realise that the majority of us have families, and I think it’s because we have such a supportive network in the school, it helps to balance out everything,” she said.

“We come to school with a full tower of Jenga and we give our absolute best to the children and each other.

“By the time the bell rings for home time, we have a lot of those pieces of the Jenga missing. That’s how much of ourselves we give to our career.”