2nd May 2024 – Ancillary Services Grant / ISL Team Reporting to Board of Management
- Published: 02 May 2024
In this week’s E-scéal:
- Planning Prompts
- Professional Guidance - Leadership & Management Team Reporting to Board of Management
- Ancillary Grant – Secretary in DE Scheme
- Leadership+ Growth Mindset - A Toolkit for Life
- National Online Training Programme for Special Needs Assistants
- Safety Representative Survey
- Summer Programme – Special School Update
- Ciall Ceannaithe
- iQTS-qualified teachers and iQTS student teachers
As our To Do list grows and we are pressed for decisions on just about everything, our chances of positive communication are more likely when we mind ourselves and are not overstretched. Taking a few minutes to focus on our breathing during the day and consider how to respond to demands could make all the difference.
Notice the tension you are holding in your shoulders. Let your shoulders drop. This releases that tension. Do this a few times during the day.
Professional Guidance - Leadership & Management Team Reporting to Board of Management
Circular 0070/2018 established the rationale for a shared approach to leadership in schools. It identified that, “The primary purpose of school leadership and management is to create and sustain an environment that underpins high quality pupil care, learning and teaching.”
All members of the leadership and management team are accountable to the Board of Management for the fulfilment of their roles and responsibilities, and for how their work contributes to the primary purpose of school leadership, as described in the circular.
Ancillary Grant – Secretary in DE Scheme
With reference to the notice received by schools regarding ancillary services grants, where the secretary has transferred into the DE paid scheme and the reduced grant poses difficulties for the school, IPPN would advise the following:
- that the information note be brought to the attention of the Board of Management, at the earliest opportunity
- that the Board should consider
Leadership+ Growth Mindset - A Toolkit for Life
As educators, we see many common challenges facing our pupils in today’s world. In many classrooms, we are presented with intense mental health and emotional needs. Promoting an attitude of Growth Mindset is a preventative approach, open to all pupils, irrespective of background or ability. It is a simple strategy for developing self-esteem, social, problem-solving and emotional regulation skills.
National Online Training Programme for Special Needs Assistants
This 10-month online programme, provided by UCD, is fully funded by the Department of Education in partnership with the NCSE. The programme is for SNAs currently working within the Irish education system. SNAs do not have to be in a permanent role but need to be employed by the DE on a full-time or part-time basis to be eligible to apply.
Email SNAWorkforceDevelopment@education.gov.ie with any queries.
The SNA Information Hub is available here.
The Safety Representative (an employee of the BoM) works with school leaders and BoM to ensure awareness of safety issues (including stress and aggressive behaviour towards staff) and implementation of the Safety Statement. This is a distinct role from that of Safety Officer (a member of the BoM).
Please ask your Safety Representative to complete a short survey for the HSA - Consultation and Safety Representatives Survey.
Summer Programme – Special School Update
The Department of Education recently launched a recruitment campaign for Graduate Student Teachers and PME Student Teachers in their Final Year to work in Special Schools who are offering a school-based Summer Programme, on completion of their final exams.
Eligible special schools that already have access to the Summer Programme Portal have been provided with one free credit to create an advert for the new ‘Special School Student Teacher Placement’ role.
Student teachers can review the adverts on www.educationposts.ie and apply according to the advert instructions. Email queries on the school-based programme can be sent to schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie
Ciall Ceannaithe
Ciall Ceannaithe is IPPN’s dedicated online training course for school leaders both newly appointed and as well as experienced principals who wish to refresh their practice and update their skills.
Click here for more info & book your place
iQTS-qualified teachers and iQTS student teachers
Schools may be approached by student teachers undertaking studies through ‘iQTS’ in the UK, and those who have completed the iQTS programme.
The DE has issued an information note to schools regarding initial teacher education and certain overseas teacher qualifications, which may have come to the recent attention of schools and students in Ireland.
IPPN encourages school leaders and Boards of Management to prioritise the facilitation of school placement for student teachers in Teaching Council accredited programmes of initial teacher education.
The information note also identifies the steps required of iQTS qualified teacher before they can be registered with the Teaching Council.
