22nd February 2024 – Leading Effectively Together/Managing school secretary absences
- Published: 22 February 2024
In this week's E-scéal:
- Planning Prompts
- Leadership Connections - Leading Effectively Together
- Deputy Principals' Conference Materials
- Citizen's Assembly on the Future of Education
- Professional Guidance - Managing school secretary absences
- National Survey for SNAs
- Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais i Scoileanna Gaeltachta agus Lán-Ghaelige
- Ireland's Education Yearbook
- Mason Hayes and Curran Webinar
- ESHA Leadership Webinar Series
- Latest Updates
- Key dates
The goalposts change constantly, particularly where school administration is concerned. There are several ways to keep up to date on deadlines and changes that affect the school. These include the weekly E-scéal, the Planning Prompts within the E-scéal, and the OLCS website www.esinet.ie. It is advisable to ask a member of staff, ideally the person who inputs data, to log on regularly to advise you of any new information.
Leadership Connections – Leading Effectively Together
The Leadership Connections session at the Deputy Principals’ Conference in Galway was an opportunity for attendees to talk and hear about the things that are working for others in the area of co-leadership so that the wisdom of the collective can shape and enhance our own individual leadership practice.
Through a process of guided discussion and engagement, attendees considered the question ‘How can my principal and I lead our school most effectively together?’
IPPN Deputy Principals’ Conference Materials
400+ DPs attended their conference on 8 and 9 February in Galway, the highest-ever attendance. Click here to access materials provided by:
- Patricia Mannix McNamara – Leading with Purpose
- Enda McGorman and Lorraine Dempsey – Wellbeing of leaders, staff and pupils
- Séamie O’Neill - Curriculum Leadership
- Michelle Stowe – Restorative Practice
- Sharon Healy – Behaviours of Concern
- IPPN speakers - Páiric Clerkin, Louise Tobin, Brian O’Doherty and Selina Carmody.
The team is reviewing the evaluation feedback as an input to IPPN DP Conference 2025.
Citizen’s Assembly on the Future of Education
The planning group of the Citizen’s Assembly for Education addressed the National Council in December on its aims and objectives, and sought input on a number of key aspects, including:
- Vision and purpose
- Transitions/holistic education
- Resourcing
- Teachers as trusted professionals
- Skills and values
- Voices that need to be heard
The Council’s collated views were a key input to the IPPN submission to the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Education.
Click here to view the submission
Managing school secretary absences
To be shared with your staff and Board, as appropriate
The latest information below was provided by FSSU. The DE is due to issue further guidance.
The provisions concerning the appointment of substitute secretaries are currently being finalised. In the interim, schools requiring a substitute secretary should continue to appoint substitute secretaries in the line with the current arrangements in place in the school. The recruitment of substitute secretaries should be open and transparent, and compliant with relevant employment law.
National Survey for Special Needs Assistants
To be shared with your staff and Board, as appropriate
The first National Survey for Special Needs Assistants has been published on gov.ie here. The survey will provide vital data for the SNA Workforce Development Plan. While 7,000+ SNAs had engaged with the survey by the mid-term break, almost half did not complete the survey. The Department has asked that school leaders make SNAs in their school aware of the survey and encourage them to complete all of the questions.
Meastar go bhfuil diagnóis oifigiúil de riachtanais speisialta oideachais ag 9.4% de dhaltaí bunscoile a fhreastalaíonn ar bhunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht . Mar chuid den taighde atá déanta againn, rinneamar imscrúdú ar na tacaíochtaí breise a theastaíonn ó dhaltaí a bhfuil RSO acu i mbunscoileanna agus iar-bhunscoileanna Gaeltachta agus lán-Ghaeilge . Mar chuid de shonraí an tsuirbhé agus na n-agallamh, ba léir go bhfuil go leor cleachtais dhearfacha agus chuimsitheacha i bhfeidhm chun freastal ar riachtanais na daltaí.
Ireland’s Education Yearbook 2023
Click here to view the Primary section of the Yearbook, to which IPPN President Louise Tobin and Deputy CEO Brian O’Doherty contributed
MHC/IPPN Webinar: Essential Law for the School Leader
The Mason, Hayes & Curran LLP Education Team is collaborating with IPPN to facilitate this webinar, which will discuss:
- Parental Complaints Procedures 2024 (Revised)
- Child Protection Procedures for Primary Schools 2023 (Revised)
- Behaviours of Concern - Responding to a Crisis
- Employment law updates
It will take place on Wednesday 13 March from 4.00pm to 5.00pm via Zoom.
European School Heads Leadership Webinar Series
The ESHA Leadership Series targets school leaders who want to bring about intentional, sustainable, whole-school change. It consists of six virtual workshops from a big picture conversation about how to lead change and how to measure the impact of your actions. For more information and to register, click here and select ‘ESHA Leadership Series’.
To be shared with your Board, staff and parent body as appropriate
NPC Webinars Feb/Mar – Supporting your child’s transition from pre-school to primary
DE Report on Education for Ukrainian Children
Department of Education Inspectorate report on The Quality of Education for Children and Young People from Ukraine.
I am Creative - DE/MIC Research Report
MHC - Fundamental Changes to Reporting Obligations Under Children First Act
Significant dates in February/March
By 29 February:
- Notify Panel Operator of permanent or fixed term vacancies
- Return of key forms to Primary Allocations
- Return Main Redeployment Panel Application Form (Appendix E)
- Return SET Cluster 2024/25 Form (Appendix D)
- Return CID Declaration Form 23 (Appendix G)
- Staffing Appeals Form (Appendix F)
- Submit completed Form Prim-EAL 2024/25 application for pupils with EAL needs
10 March - Mothers’ Day
25 March to 5 April - Easter School Closures
