IPPN

E-Scéal 157: Conference 2009 - Diary Dates

Published: 11 April 2008

IPPN Conference 2009

Believe it or not, plans for Conference 2009 are already well underway. Our two last conferences were in Killarney. We are fully aware that Killarney is an extremely long distance for Principals in the Northern half of the country wishing to attend Conference. All things being equal we would really like to hold Conference 2009 someplace in the Midlands, the West of the Northwest. In choosing a conference location, we have to make sure that the venue can adequately cater for the following criteria:

1. Expected attendance of 850 - 900. The number of Principals attending continues to grow steadily each year, regardless of location.

2. Conference Hall / Auditorium capacity for 950 - 1000 to include guests and others.

3. A minimum of 12 - 15 separate Workshop Rooms with a combined capacity of 850

4. Restaurant capacity to provide lunch for 950 - 1000

5. Banquet Hall to provide Gala Dinner for 950 - 1000 with entertainment facilities

6. Enough space for 80 - 100 Trade Exhibit Stands

7. Sufficient accommodation for all attendees within a reasonable distance

Having carried out an exhaustive search of hotel and conference venues throughout the country, the Irish National Events Centre (INEC) at the Gleneagle & Brehon Hotel complex in Killarney, remains the best option for Conference 2009.

There are a number of new conference facilities being built in Ireland which will hopefully expand the number of options available in future years. Meanwhile, please note the following dates for your 2009 diary:

IPPN Conference 2009 - Thursday, January 29th - Saturday, January 31st - INEC, Killarney

Accommodation can be reserved at the Gleneagle Hotel, Brehon Hotel & Riverside Apartments by contacting 064 71550.
Please quote IPPN Conference 2009 to avail of the rates below.

GLENEAGLE HOTEL:

Single Occupancy - €119.00 per room per night B&B

Double Occupancy - €150.00 per room per night B&B

BREHON HOTEL:

Single Occupancy - €139.00 per room per night B&B

Double Occupancy - €170.00 per room per night B&B

GLENEAGLE RIVERSIDE APARTMENTS:

€220.00 per night 1- 4 pax

Feedback from our last conference was tremendously positive on all fronts. We would be delighted to receive any suggestions you may have for next year in relation to Keynote Speakers, Facilitators, Workshop Topics, Entertainment etc. Please send your suggestions to info@ippn.ie

Is sinne le meas

Seán Cottrell & Angela Lynch

E-Scéal 156: IBS - IPPN Preferred Supplier

Published: 08 April 2008

IPPN is delighted to introduce IBS as its preferred supplier for printing, copying and fax facilities and acknowledge their support of IPPN as a Gold Sponsor.

IBS is the Sole Distributor in Ireland for the Konica Minolta range of products which includes printer, fax and photocopying machines and multi-functioning devices which incorporate all three products into one machine. Konica Minolta holds the number one position in the Multi-functioning device market in Ireland and their products have been voted the most reliable colour and multi-functional products in the world. IBS is an ISO 9001:2000 Quality Assured Company with offices in Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Derry, Galway, Sligo, Portlaoise and Limerick.

IBS is a company whose excellence of product and service is matched by a reputation for a friendly, attentive and extremely professional approach to every customer need. They are a service and sales organisation that prides themselves on having a very high level of customer satisfaction throughout the country. All service and repairs are carried out by their 65 fully-qualified Engineers who are strategically located throughout the country to ensure that wherever you are, IBS is only 30 minutes away.

As a Gold Partner and preferred supplier of IPPN, we would ask you to include IBS in the tendering process when you are considering your next purchase.

Is sinne le meas

Seán Cottrell & Larry Fleming

E-Scéal 155: Summer Works Scheme Survey

Published: 08 April 2008

The DES are currently carrying out a value-for-money and policy review of the Summer Works Scheme in operation over the past number of years. In order to evaluate all aspects, they need to take into account the views of the management authorities and Principals in schools.

The Department has asked IPPN to assist them in gathering this information from Principals so that learning and lessons can be included in the review. To this end, we have made a survey available here on www.educationopinion.ie with links available through www.ippn.ie.

IPPN is hopeful that the benefits of the Summer Works Scheme to schools will be obvious to the DES and that the Scheme would be reinstated as soon as possible.

To access the survey, please click on www.educationopinion.ie and then click on the survey titled 'Summer Works Scheme', which should take no more than 6-8 minutes to complete.

Is sinne le meas

Seán Cottrell & Larry Fleming

E-Scéal 154: DES consults Principals on Curriculum and SEN

Published: 02 April 2008

The DES has invited IPPN to take part in a consultation process on two key issues. Because of IPPN's determination to accurately reflect the experience and opinions of school leaders, we invite you to submit your own views on these two topics.

Special Education Needs - A review of the general allocation model
Based on your school's experience in recent years please outline in simple bullet points the aspects of the GAM which you value and wish to continue and also the changes you would like to see in a revised version. Please refer to the DES letter which is available as a link below.

Putting the Primary Curriculum on a legislative basis
Up to now the curriculum in Primary Schools has been regulated by DES Circulars which advise on content, methodologies, time tables etc. The practice has been one which has given schools a lot of autonomy and freedom to adjust and balance the curriculum for the school context. The Education Act (Section 30) allows the Minister to place the curriculum within a legal framework which would have the effect of making it far more prescriptive and less flexible for schools. There may be advantages and disadvantages in both cases. There are particular implications for Gaelscoileanna and policy re. the timing of introducing the teaching of English. Equally so, it would have consequences for the teaching of other 'modern' languages which continue to be 'piloted' in some schools.

Important
Both of these issues will have direct long-term implications not just for Principals but for everyone engaged in primary education. Please bring these issues to the attention of your teaching staff and, where possible, involve them in formulating your feedback to IPPN.

Feedback
Please email your views and recommendations to info@ippn.ie Place the word 'CURRICULUM or 'SEN - GAM' in the subject line of your e-mail. It would be appreciated if you can keep your feedback as succinct as possible in bullet point format in order to facilitate the members of the IPPN Executive who will be collating your feedback.

Deadline
Unfortunately, the Department have given us very short time-frames for submissions. Please prioritise the SEN - GAM feedback to be received Wednesday 9th April. Feedback on the Curriculum to be received by Wednesday 25th April. (Ed - please note the deadline date for Curriculum feedback was subsequntly extended to May 23rd)

SEN - Review of the General Allocation Model

Curriculum - Regulations to Prescribe the Primary Curriculum