IPPN

Published: 24 April 2024

As you may be aware, Special Schools who are running an in-person programme have been given leave to employ graduate teachers and PME student teachers who are in their final year to work as a student teacher in a Special School and on the Summer Programme. As the guidance indicates – “Schools can recruit up to two student teachers from the 3rd week in May 2024 (or on completion of exams) until the end of the school based summer programme. This will allow student teachers to gain valuable relevant experience in a special education setting and will assist special schools during a very busy period in their school year. It will also assist with familiarisation and preparation leading into a summer programme.”

To assist special schools in this regard, IPPN will add a credit to the EducationPosts.ie account of each special school that has undertaken to provide an in-person summer programme. This will ensure that schools can advertise these positions without incurring any cost.

It is a matter for each individual school to decide what they require of applicants in terms of submitting an application, however, a letter of application outlining relevant experience and why the applicant would like to be considered for the position might be appropriate information to seek.

The Initial Teacher Education providers will be advised that schools are advertising these positions on educationposts.ie so that they can draw them to the attention of the relevant cohorts of student teachers.

Again, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how they will consider the applications received and what process might be used to determine the most suitable applicants. A formal recruitment process is not required.

Conditions that applicants must satisfy are as follows:

Graduate Teachers
Where the registration process with the Teaching Council has commenced, the graduate teacher must:
1. Have received their final results from their HEI confirming they are eligible for registration with the Teaching Council.
2. Have their Garda vetting completed as part of their application for registration with the Teaching Council.
3. Have their registration with the Council finalised prior to 04 October 2024.

Teachers who are registered under Primary Route 1 can only be paid the primary qualified rate from the registration date as advised by the Teaching Council. Otherwise, the unqualified rate will apply.

PME Student Teachers
Applies to student teachers, who have registered with the Teaching Council under Route 3 – Further Education, who can work on the summer programme.

PME student teachers currently in Year 1 of the programme, who have applied for registration with the Teaching Council under Further Education, can be engaged by special schools if:
1. Garda vetting has been completed as part of their application for registration with the Teaching Council.
2. Their registration with the Council under Further Education will be finalised prior to 04 October 2024.

PME student teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council under the Further Education route will be paid at the unqualified rate for the duration of the internship.