IPPN

Published: 03 September 2004

SEN Crisis Continues

Most Principals have found that reopening their schools this September has been extremely difficult and stressful due to the ongoing lack of clarity and the absence of coherent, consistent information. Correspondence to Principals and Chairpersons at the end of June promised that key information would be sent to schools before reopening in September. Not only has this not happened but it appears that Principals who gave up much of their summer holiday dealing with this matter have been totally frustrated at the unavailability of DES officials and in other cases, being given inconsistent information over the telephone.

I wrote to Minister Dempsey and several key officials in the DES in early July seeking clarification and responses to 28 issues emerging from SEN documentation sent to schools. The issues in question were raised by Principals throughout the country and were reasonable and fair questions to ask. On September 1st - two months later, I received a response form the Minister acknowledging the letter and stating that he was asking his officials to contact IPPN to address the issues in question! Unfortunately no further progress has been made in clarifying the current state of confusion in which many Principals, Teachers, SNAs and parents find themselves in. In case you did not get an opportunity to see our letter to the DES, the link below facilitates you to download it from the home page of our website www.ippn.ie.

Meanwhile, our office has been inundated with telephone calls and emails seeking answers to questions re what is happening about the new SEN arrangements and their impact on staffing etc. Unfortunately IPPN is not in a position to answer these questions. As soon as we have information of value to Principals, we will send it immediately by e-scéal with a text message reminder.

Guidance for Principals re SEN Best Practice

In order to support principals through this current period of transition from Resource & Learning Support teaching to Special Education teaching, the IPPN executive has decided to establish an Advisory Group of Principals to research and outline some proposed examples of good practice appropriate to different size schools. Can you help in either of the following ways?

1. Participation in SEN Advisory Group - If you have appropriate experience in managing the rapidly changing SEN situation in your school and have been innovative with your staff in responding to this challenge, I would be delighted to hear from you by e-mail (info@ippn.ie 'SEN' in subject line) or by telephone (1890 21 22 23)
2. Assistance for the SEN Advisory Group - If you cannot participate directly perhaps you might help by describing and sharing your school's approach to organising & managing SEN, outlining ways your school has utilised staff (including shared) and resources. Please contribute you ideas by e-mail as above.
   Once the collective wisdom on managing SEN has been brought together from a representative group of Principals, IPPN will circulate this Professional Guidance to all members. This should at least offer you as an individual Principal the confidence of knowing that your practice is informed by and in line with good practice as advised by your professional association.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell,
Director,
Irish Primary Principals' Network.

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Published: 01 September 2004

RTE Morning Ireland

Morning Ireland yesterday contacted IPPN with a view to doing a feature on the ongoing SEN crisis. Henry Goff, Principal of St Senans' NS in Enniscorthy had been in contact with our Support Office providing an update on the latest information he had from the DES. Following IPPN suggestion, Morning Ireland interviewed Henry Goff at 7.20am Tuesday Morning. The full interview can be heard by clicking below. In order to hear this interview through the RTE website you must have a programme called RealPlayer on your PC. If you find you cannot access the sound file, please download RealPlayer (it's free) by clicking on the link below.

• Radio Interview
• Free RealPlayer Download (for those with RealPlayer)

National Disabilities Authority (NDA)

The NDA has invited IPPN to nominate a representative principal sit on an Advisory Committee for the NDA's research project entitled: "A review of primary education for children with disabilities in Ireland." The NDA has commissioned academic staff from TCD to carry out this research and are in the process of appointing an advisory committee to oversee the work and advise the NDA in respect of the project. The committee will be multi-disciplinary including a primary principal teacher. If you feel that you have appropriate experience and interest in the area of children with disablities and would like to represent IPPN on this Advisory Committee please send an e-mail to IPPN Support Office with NDA in the subject line or telephone 1890 21 22 23 for further information.

ADHD
IPPN has been invited to nominate a representative who will participate in an ADHD action / awareness group. This group is being established to raise public awareness and lobby relevant agencies on the need for improved understanding of ADHD and more appropriate therapies in its treatment. The group will meet in the Dublin area. I would like to hear from principals with specific experience of or interest in ADHD. If you would like to find our more about this please send an email with ADHD in the subject line to IPPN Support Office or contact me at 1890 21 22 23.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell,
Director,
Irish Primary Principals' Network.

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Published: 15 August 2004

Recent correspondence from the DES led to several principals calling & e-mailing the IPPN Support Office last week with various concerns. Four members of our National Committee compiled the various issues into a single document which has been sent to Liam Hughes (and his colleagues) asking for written clarification to 27 issues arising from 09/04 - see letter below. Any information arising from a reply will be sent sent to you in due course.

Is mise le meas,
Seán Cottrell Director

Mr. Liam Hughes,
Principal Officer,
Special Education,
DES Athlone.

2nd July 2004

Liam,

Attached please find a collated list of the concerns and questions that principals have submitted to IPPN since Circular 09/04 was issued. Approximately 350 principals have telephoned and/or e-mailed IPPN in the last four days.

From the perspective of principal teachers, Circular 09/04 and the subsequent letter sent to chairpersons of Boards of Management (why was this not sent to principals?) have not been helpful. Both documents have raised more questions than they have answered and in doing so have created a lot of anxiety and annoyance from teachers, principals and chairpersons alike. This is due to the lack of clarity in much of the information contained as well as the consistently vague language in which it is stated. This is an unnecessary waste of principals time and energy and could be easily avoided if there was adequate consultation with principals before such communications.

In the interest of fairness and respect for principals, who in the reality of school life, have to interpret these documents on behalf of their BoMs, staff and parents, I would appreciate if you would reply in writing to the concerns and questions in the attached document.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell,
Director,
Irish Primary Principals' Network.

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Published: 01 August 2004

The late arrival of the above circular as schools are just about to close for summer holidays is a cause of anxiety for principals and their school communities. The time frame referred to in the circular to implement the new SEN arrangements, does not allow for the professional consultation, planning and decision making which are required of principals.

BoMs, principals, teachers, resource / learning support teachers and parents need sufficient time to discuss the significance of this new 'weighted' system of SEN resource allocation. There will be several significant changes as a consequence of this new approach to resourcing schools for SEN. It is not good professional practice to make hasty decisions based on incomplete information and driven by tight deadlines during holiday periods. The careful management of change is critically important when the education of children with SEN is at stake and where the employment of staff is concerned.

Circular 09/04 states that it is intended to issue a further 'comprehensive circular' to schools 'for the commencement of the new school year'. It also states that applications for SNA support will be responded to 'in advance of the next school year'. This timeframe refers to official school holidays as standarised by the DES!

In our efforts to assist principals with many obvious concerns, IPPN has made contact with Mr. Liam Hughes of the Special Education section in Athlone, seeking answers to several key questions which arise from circular 09/04. I am still awaiting a response and therefore cannot provide any further information relating to your many queries.

Some schools have already completed their 183 day school year, the remainder will have closed by Wednesday June 30th.. In the interest of the Health & Safety of the Principal and the SEN support team, IPPN recommends that the implications of circular 09/04 and other circulars issued in July/August, be addressed at the beginning of the new school year in September. At that stage, all those affected by the new system will be present and available for appropriate consultation.

Is Mise Le Meas,

Seán Cottrell
Director

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