IPPN

E-scéal 30th Jan 2025 - Moving the Dial on Leadership – a twin-track approach

Published: 06 February 2025

Moving the Dial on Leadership – a twin-track approach

Here we provide an overview of how IPPN is approaching the empowerment of effective and sustainable leadership.
We have responded to member feedback received in our Supports & Services Review and are starting to make aspects of our communication available via additional channels. You can choose below whether to read about, listen to or watch a video on how IPPN is moving the dial on effective and sustainable leadership. We will discuss this further with the National Council at its meeting in March. Please feed back to your local representatives in your county, or directly to IPPN.

Planning Prompts

The possibility for conflict to escalate to the point of being hard to resolve is always present. It can be particularly difficult when it arises between staff members. The best time to discuss conflict is when there is no issue.

To this end, refer to David Ruddy’s Legal Diary ‘Working Together’ in the February 2025 issue of Leadership+, which outlines the processes around Staff Relations, Adult Bullying, Harassment and Grievances. Consider scheduling discussion on these processes for a staff meeting. When conflict does arise, parties can then be referred to the policy and process for dealing with conflict with which they are now familiar. It can make unrealistic expectations less likely.

Schools badly affected by Storm Éowyn – DE Guidance/Request / Iarratas chun oiliúint a chur siar i gceantair a bhfuil tionchar ag bristeacha cumhachta agus uisce orthu
29th January - The DE understands that many schools have been impacted by the recent storm, with some experiencing damage to buildings and a loss of power or water. We appreciate principals and boards of management are doing everything they can to ensure schools re-open as soon as possible.
If your school has significant damage that is affecting its operations, please contact us at emergency_works@education.gov.ie.
30th January – Schools are requested to postpone any planned staff training days in the coming days and week if they would require closing the school again where children do not have power and water at home.
Read More

IPPN DP Conference 2025 - Exhibitors at Education Expo

https://events.ippn.ie/exhibitors
Book your place

Leadership+ Issue 136 – February 2025
Celebrating 25 Years of IPPN
Articles by School Leaders:

Leadership in Profile: Working with Change - Rachel Dolan, Principal of St Laserian's Special School, Carlow and NC member
Breathwork: A Transformational Journey in Leadership Keith Ó Brolacháin, Principal of St. Francis Special School, Beaufort, Co. Kerry
30th Anniversary Celebration of the Inaugural Conference for Irish Primary Principals – Diarmuid Hennessy, Principal of Scoil Mhuire na nGrást, Belgooly, Co. Cork
Internalised Leadership – Dr Carmel McCarroll, Principal, St. Louis Infant School, Monaghan Town
Nurturing Schools and Nurture Rooms Margaret Twomey Moore, Deputy Principal of Beaumont Boys School, Cork
Seanie our therapy dog: A new friend and supporter in our school - Marge O'Brien, Principal of Scoil Barra Naofa Cailíní, Beaumont, Cork

Read Issue 136

Making your leadership role more ‘doable’
Register

NCSE Relate Behaviour Framework
NCSE Relate is a comprehensive resource to support school staff to understand and reframe behaviour. It places relationships at the heart of all support and takes a regulation first approach in understanding and supporting students.
The framework has eight principles to support school staff in understanding behaviour and is the foundation for support.
Find out more

Sectoral Updates

NCSE AON webinar
Upcoming webinar for primary teachers and school leaders on Assessment of Need. This webinar will familiarise participants with the AON process and support them with the completion of the NCSE Report of Education Needs. Tuesday 26th February at 3pm.
Register

The Department of Education Inspectorate Report (2021-2023) and Thematic Review
Read

Survey of Substitute Teachers
Please share with teachers who sub in your school
https://bit.ly/40GyTzG

NABMSE Research Conference 2025
Theme: Voice Matters – a collaborative representation of unique perspectives
When: 9am to 3:30pm, Friday 7th February 2025
Where: Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9
Eight workshops on topics including:

Educating students with ASD through the ASD Class Model
Transition from special school
Building a collaborative, solution-focused school culture
Immigrant families’ experiences with educational support services for children with disabilities.

Register

Creative Clusters 2025 – Call for Applications / Cnuasaigh Chruthaitheacha 2025
Guidelines/ Treoirlínte 2025
Criteria for selection of applicants/ Critéir maidir le roghnú iarratasóirí
Creative Clusters 2025 application form and guidelines/ foirm iarratais agus Treoirlínte
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7078b-creative-clusters-2025-call-for-applications/

https://www.gov.ie/ga/foilsiuchan/cnuasach-cruthaitheach-2025/?

Be Well, Lead Well
Tip #7 Breathwork Techniques for Principals – Keith Ó Brolacháin

Box Breathing
o Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds
o Repeat this cycle for 2-3 minutes to reduce stress and enhance focus.
See Keith’s article on Breathwork in Leadership+ Issue 136, which will arrive in schools shortly.
#BeWellLeadWell

Did you know?
The Emotional Well-being of Deaf Children and Young People, Queens University Belfast
Professor Bronagh Byrne and Dr Catherine McNamee
https://www.ippn.ie/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=att_download&link_id=6910&cf_id=24

See also Bronagh’s article on A rights-based approach to supporting children with SEN in the February 2025 issue of Leadership+.

https://issuu.com/ippn/docs/issue_136_-_feb_2025_epubfinal/4?fr=sYjAzNTgyMTI0Mzc

DE interviews with Ukrainian and International Protection students in Irish schools
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLERFeT7_osGCeLJGPxxFHbDypYVLzZNg7&si=dcdSIaTJ8VqQsXDW

WILL - Women in Learning and Leadership
WILL is a support network for women in education who are interested in leadership. This community has grown to more than 2,200 members, running a range of online and in-person events to provide opportunities to connect, support and learn from each other.
WILL Connects offers 2 x 90 minute workshops online and 1 x 2 hour in-person morning workshop (venue Dublin) beginning on Tuesday, 4 Feb.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/will-connects-leadership-workshops-including-in-person-event-tickets-1142805464909?aff=oddtdtcreator&dm_t=0,0,0,0,0&dm_i=7L5E,AXVW,4MI7V,193KH,1