IPPN

Published: 01 July 2004

The DES issued a Press Release today Thursday, re new SEN Allocation System. As it contains direct implications for schools the statement is being sent to you in this E-scéal - see below.

During the next few days the IPPN Executive will examine this Press Release and circulate professional guidance on the relevant issues.

Is Mise Le Meas,
Seán Cottrell
Director

PRESS RELEASE

Dempsey Approves Special Needs Allocation System

18th June 2004

The Minister for Education and Science, Noel Dempsey T.D., has approved the allocation of an additional 350 teaching posts for special needs and a new system for the allocation of resources for special needs in primary schools.

The new system will involve a general weighted allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence special needs, those with learning support needs, borderline mild and mild general learning disability and dyslexia. It will also allow for individual allocations in respect of pupils with more acute needs.

The general weighted allocation system will greatly reduce the need for individual applications and supporting psychological assessments and will put resources in place on a more systematic basis, thereby giving schools more certainty over their resource levels. This will allow for better planning in schools, greater flexibility in identifying and intervening earlier with regard to pupils' special needs, as well as making the posts more attractive to qualified teachers.

The previous allocation system placed significant demands on principals, teachers and psychologists. It has also proven to be time-consuming, thereby delaying the allocation of resources for special needs. "We had to take action to reform the system and I believe that the model we are now introducing will, over time, significantly improve the capacity of the system to cater for children with special needs in a speedier, more effective way," said Minister Dempsey. "The revised system will reduce the administrative burden on schools and allow them to concentrate on the delivery of services to pupils with special needs. It will also allow psychologists to devote more time to advising teachers on planning for individual children and for whole school provision," added the Minister.

The revised system will have regard to the fact that there appears to be a greater incidence of disabilities in boys. It is also weighted in favour of the most disadvantaged schools. It will mean that every school will be given an allocation for pupils in the higher incidence disability categories without having to submit individual applications. As has been practice hitherto in relation to learning support teachers, the Department will be clustering small schools together to enable the allocation of full-time posts.

In the most disadvantaged schools (over 240 schools), a teacher of pupils with special needs will be allocated for every 80 pupils to cater for the subset of pupils with higher incidence special needs. In all boys schools, the ratio will be one teacher for every 140 pupils, in mixed schools one for every 150 pupils and in all girls schools one for every 200 pupils. In addition, all schools will be able to apply for separate specific allocations in respect of pupils with lower incidence disabilities.

The Department of Education and Science will now communicate with schools in relation to their allocations. Permission will be given to fill all specific allocations immediately. The general weighted allocations will be filled following the determination of clustering and reallocation arrangements. To ease the transition to the new system, the Department has already agreed not to redeploy teachers from full-time posts via the panel redeployment process.

Ends

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Published: 30 June 2004

Details of In-Service days for next year

Following a request to the Department of Education & Science, the Teacher Education Unit, formerly known as the In Career Development Unit (ICDU) has confirmed that there will be a total of six 'non contact' days for Primary School In-Service training in the next school year. The breakdown of these days is as follows:

• 1 day - In-service training for PE
• 1 day - School based planning for PE
• 2 day - In-service training for Music
• 1 day - School based planning for Music
• 1 day - School Development Planning

If you have any further queries about these six days, please contact either your Education Support Centre or your School Development Planning Facilitator.

Student Transfer Form - Primary to Post-Primary

When pupils transfer from a primary school to a second level school (or to another primary school) principals often query how much information should be passed on and in what format it should be offered. IPPN has developed a sample one page document which can be used to address this information transfer issue. We have already been in discussion with the National Education Welfare Board, the National Council for Curriculum Assessment and the National Association of Principals and Deputies (2nd Level) seeking their views on a multi-purpose standardised format. A refined document will be developed for the next school year, meanwhile a current working draft is available to those who wish to use this June.

Some issues to be considered:

1. Frequently, most pupil information is transferred verbally. The use of a standardised Student Transfer Form does not prevent or replace the value of such verbal reports.
2. Historically a standard form did exist but ceased usage due to its out of date format.
3. The absence of standardised information about students has been used as a justification for 'entrance assessments/exams'
4. Given the growing culture of transparency and accountability, it is important that schools have their own written record of the information that was formally handed over to parents/other schools.
5. Due to data protection considerations, it is prudent to obtain parental permission before sending the Student Transfer Form to the receiving school.
6. A copy should be given to the parents/guardians of the pupil.
7. In the case of a sixth class pupil transferring to second level, the Student Transfer Form can also act as an end of year report to parents, thus avoiding duplication of paperwork.
8. Any information provided by the class teacher/support teacher should be confined to facts and professional opinions which can be backed-up in the event of enquiry.
   A copy of the sample Student Transfer Form is downloadable from the 'Organisational Policies' area in the 'Resources' section of www.ippn.ie or you can go directly to http://www.ippn.ie/resorg.php You will need your roll number and password to gain access. Feedback from principals about this form will be gladly received.

Is Mise Le Meas,

Seán Cottrell
Director

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Published: 25 June 2004

Summer Professional Development Programme for Principals -
IPPN & Mary Immaculate College

This summer you will have the opportunity for the first time ever, to go on-line for your professional development facilitated by IPPN & Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Limerick. In collaboration with MIC, IPPN is delighted to offer David Ruddy's 'The Principal and the Law' as an on-line programme. This programme is designed to improve your knowledge and competency in respect of your schools legal obligations to children, parents, staff etc. David is one of Irelands leading experts in education law. His expertise derives from his specialist knowledge of education and other related law, coupled with his experience and knowledge as a serving principal teacher.

MIC, Limerick and IPPN have teamed up to create Ireland's first on-line professional development programme for principals. We are delighted to have the support of MIC through its President Dr. Peadar Cremin. Dr. Teresa O Doherty, Head of Education and Mr. David O Grady, Curriculum Development Unit, are both highly experienced in professional development design / provision and have recently introduced state of the art technology for web based programme delivery.

This is a new venture offering an innovative solution to professional development for busy school principals. Please examine programme details below for further information.

Is Mise Le Meas,

Seán Cottrell
Director

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Programme Details:

Methodology:

• registered participants will receive a CD with full programme content i.e. video, PowerPoint presentations, lecture notes, case studies etc.
• the programme consists of 10 two-hour modules which can be 'taken' at any time between the prescribed dates.
• each participant is given a user name and password giving him/her access to the programme website.
• using the CD the participant views, listens, reads and reflects upon the material presented in each module.
• after each module, the participant goes on-line to submit his/her feedback, reflections, questions or comments etc.
• each participant can take part in an e-mail based 'discussion' to add further value to their experience.

Programme Aims:

• school principals will broaden their understanding of the law in relation to pupils, parents, staff, Boards of Management and the DES.
• participants will examine, 'discuss' (on-line) and evaluate case law, legal documentation and legislation.
• participants will appreciate their legal obligations to parents, children, staff, BoMs and the DES.
• participants will have regard to school policies required by statute.
• legal resources and case law will be made available to staff and BoM.

Content:

• Education Act 1998
• Equal status Act 2000
• Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998
• Data Protection Acts 1988-2003
• Freedom of Information Act 1997
• Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003
• Education Welfare Act 2000
• Duty of Care/Negligence
• Case Law
• Admissions Policy
• Code of Discipline
• Anti-bulling Policy
• Child protection

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Published: 21 June 2004

Special Education Needs- Update from DES

On May 26th IPPN met with Minister Noel Dempsey and Mr Peter Baldwin, Assistant Secretary General, on a number of issues including SEN. Subsequent to the meeting a letter was submitted asking five specific questions. These were:

1. The redeployment panel was originally scheduled for publication on May 11th, subsequently May 21st and as of yesterday, officials in Athlone have told principals that they have no idea at present when the panel will be published! When will the redeployment panel for teachers be published?
2. Decisions regarding SER 1 and SER 2 applications will have direct impact on matters such as teacher-class allocation, job sharing arrangements, curriculum planning, transport and accommodation. By which date will the Special Education section reply to SER1 and SER2 applications that have been submitted as far back as October 2002?
3. What is the present status of Circular 24/03?
4. Is the DES recommending a merging of the roles of Learning Support Teacher and Resource Teacher into a single 'Support Teacher' type of role from September?
5. When will the DES issue a clear statement outlining policy decisions pertaining to the weighted system?

A reply to our letter was received from Mr. Baldwin on Tuesday 8th June. The main points taken directly from his letter are as follows:

• The DES appreciates that the length of time it has taken to respond poses difficulties for Principals and acknowledges their co-operation in this regard.
• The panels resulting from the operation of the mainstream appointments schedules have now been issued.
• The DES is finalising details of a weighted system for allocating resources to schools to meet the needs of pupils requiring learning support intervention as well as pupils with less acute/high incidence disabilities.
• It is proposed to retain the individual application process in the case of pupils with more acute/low incidence disabilities.
• The DES intends to issue a comprehensive circular on the new allocation system before the end of the school year.
• The circular will also set out the arrangements for processing applications received after August 31st 2003.
• Meanwhile, before the end of this school year the DES will notify schools of the outcome of applications received before August 31st 2003.
• The introduction of the new system may involve redistribution of some posts between schools. In order to minimise disruption the DES has decided that no teachers will be placed on panels this year as a result of the introduction of the new weighted model.
• Circular 24/03 is still in place.
• In relation to the roles of Learning Support Teacher and Resource Teacher, the DES continues to advocate flexibility in the deployment of resources.

The above points are taken directly form Peter Baldwin's letter and are as much information as we have been able to gain at this point in relation to proposed changes. We await the arrival of the new circular and look forward to responses from Special Ed. in Athlone to SER applications made prior to August 31st 2003. Some of these applications were submitted as early as October 2002!

Meanwhile, IPPN's Executive will continue to liaise with the DES and issue further professional guidance to support you in the management of SEN towards the beginning of the 2004/5 school year. If you have any constructive suggestions/observations on how best Principals can address any of these challenges, please forward same to
office@ippn.ie and we will include them in a future E-scéal.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell
Director

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