Professional Guidance - Annual Census Return
- Published: 02 October 2023
As the date of 30th September has now passed, it is in order for schools to complete the Annual Census Return’s process, which is done via the Pupil Online Database (POD) system.
The number of pupils who are enrolled in the school on 30th September is a critical factor in the determination of grant payments and teacher allocations to schools. To ensure the accuracy of such enrolment figures, it is imperative that a record exists on POD for each pupil enrolled in the school.
The Board of Management of the school should satisfy itself as to the accuracy of the Annual Census Return. When it has done so, the signature sheet should be signed by both the school principal and the chairperson of the Board of Management (or manager(s)) and, in the case of community national schools, by both the school principal and the Chief Executive (or their delegated officer), prior to its submission to the DE.
The deadline for the completion of this process is 30th October 2023.
Absences & Leave
- Published: 27 September 2023
Dealing with queries from Teachers, SNAs and Ancillary Staff (Secretary, Caretaker, Cleaner, Bus Escorts etc.) can be confusing at times due to the sheer number and complexity of Leave and Absence categories. All leave and absences for teachers and SNAs are governed by DE Circular, whereas leave and absences for Ancillary Staff will be governed by their individual contracts with the BoM.
IPPN has produced a Resource Bundle on Leave and Absences
Click here to access the Resource Bundle
The DE website now has a dedicated page dealing specifically with Leave and Absences for teachers and SNAs. This useful and comprehensive guide can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/56e999-breaksleave/
Please share with members of the Board of Management
Professional Guidance - Preparing to initiate the Admissions Process for 2024/25
- Published: 20 September 2023
When can the process of admissions for 2024/25 be initiated?
Schools are permitted to initiate the process of admissions for the 2024/2025 school year from 1 October 2023. It is a matter for each individual school to determine when they wish to initiate the process of admissions after that date.
What needs to be done in preparation?
- Ensure that the most up-to-date version of the Admissions’ Policy is on your school’s website.
- Update the school’s application form and ensure it is available on the school’s website, so that it can be downloaded by parents seeking to enrol their children.
- Prepare the annual Admissions’ Notice and ensure it is available on the school’s website at least one week prior to the admissions’ process being initiated.
What could also be done in preparation?
- Review the school’s procedures for communicating with parents of current pupils with regard to admissions.
- Review the school’s procedures for managing and processing the applications.
What is in the Annual Admissions’ Notice?
- Details of how the school’s Admissions’ Policy and Application Form can be accessed
- What the timelines for the admissions’ process are:
- commencement date for receipt of applications
- closing date for receipt of applications
- the date by which applicants will be notified of a decision
- the period within which applicants must confirm their acceptance of an offer of a place
- The number of places being made available for 2024/25
- Information regarding the 2023/24 process
- The number of places made available
- The number of applications received
- Number of offers made under each of the criteria in the school’s admissions’ policy
- The total number of offers made
- The number placed on a waiting list.
What needs to be on the school’s website?
- The Admissions’ Policy
- The Application Form
- The Annual Admissions’ Notice.
What else could be on the school’s website relating to admissions?
- A short overview detailing the process of application
- A Frequently Asked Questions document.
Clear communication, readily accessible documents and open sharing of information will minimize the number of queries likely to be received by the school relating to Admissions.
External Research - UCD PLAN’EAT Project - Supporting healthy and sustainable diets in Educational Settings
- Published: 12 September 2023
The PLAN'EAT project aims to transform food systems and environments towards healthy and sustainable behaviour. UCD researchers are conducting a study on healthy and sustainable diet initiatives and the needs for improvement within educational settings.
School principals are invited to share their views on:
- What is needed to support the transition toward healthy and sustainable dietary behaviours within the educational setting
- Current initiatives in place to support healthy and sustainable dietary behaviours
To participate, complete a short online survey (one per school) by Friday 22 September
Click this link to access the survey
If you have any queries or would like more information on the study, please contact: lauren.devine@ucd.ie
All participants in this study will remain anonymous and their data will be treated confidentially. University College Dublin Human Research Ethics Committee has ethically approved this study.
IPPN Position Paper on SEN Resources, Allocations & Appeals
- Published: 06 September 2023
The position paper highlights challenges relating to the allocation of resources to schools to meet additional needs, including:
- Planning for, supporting and resourcing schools to meet special needs
- How allocations are compromised by inaccurate or out of date data
- The inadequacy of the exceptional review process
- The impact of the shorter timeframe for the admissions process
- The lack of transparency with regard to how allocations are calculated
- The additional complexity of resourcing Special Schools.
The paper also outlines the key recommendations to resolve these challenges. Together, implementation of these recommendations would have a profound impact on the capacity of schools to meet the additional needs of vulnerable students and would also reduce the frustrations and stresses caused by the current processes and procedures. The latter is a key aim of IPPN’s Sustainable Leadership report ‘Primary School Leadership: A case for urgent action – A roadmap towards sustainability’.
Impact
The position paper was well received by key stakeholders – the Department of Education Special Education Section and the National Council for Special Education, who wanted an opportunity to engage directly with school leaders to understand the issues and the proposals in more detail. This resulted in the establishment of a DE Focus Group on SEN resourcing and appeals, which includes members of IPPN’s Board of Directors and the Advocacy & Communications sub-committee of the National Committee. The first meeting was held on 25th August. Further discussions are anticipated this term.
Click here to view the position paper
Development of the Position Paper
In early 2023, the Advocacy & Communications (A&C) committee of the IPPN National Council chose as its priority area of focus the issue of ‘SEN Resources, Allocations & Appeals’.
The Committee is chaired by the Chairperson of IPPN’s Board of Directors, Catríona O’Reilly, and supported by Sustainable Leadership Coordinator, Brian O’Doherty, and IPPN Advocacy & Communications Manager, Geraldine D’Arcy. Between spring and early summer, a sub-group of Committee members worked tirelessly to produce a position paper on this issue, with input from IPPN Board and staff members.
IPPN’s leadership has been using the resulting position paper in its advocacy work with key stakeholders, including in discussions around IPPN’s Budget 2024 submission
