IPPN

Published: 01 June 2003

IPPN is currently forming a Special Education Advisory Committee, which will inform of IPPN policy in this area and provide a representative function for Principals of Special Schools.

This Advisory Committee will consist of Principals representing the various Special School categories.

Already, some Support Groups for Principal Teachers of certain category Special Schools have met to discuss this issue. I now invite contact from the various Support Groups for Principals of Special Schools to discuss appropriate representation on the IPPN Special Education Advisory Committee for Principals.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell
Director

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Published: 10 May 2003

I enclose for your attention, an advertisement which appears in today's newspaper. This advert refers to a number of positions in the Leadership Development for Schools (LDS) team.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell
Director

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Leadership Development for Schools Programme

1. National Co-ordinator 2. Assistant National Co-ordinators

The Leadership Development for Schools (LDS) initiative was established in November 2001, to develop a comprehensive School Management / Leadership Programme of training and development for principals, deputy principals and others involved in school management and educational leadership in first and second level schools. This initiative is administered by Clare Education Centre.

Applications are now invited for the positions of National Coordinator and Assistant National Coordinators in this service from Principal and Deputy Principal teachers who currently hold permanent whole-time recognised posts in recognised primary and second level schools, and from Principal and Deputy Principal teachers on secondment from such posts. Short-listing may apply and in addition to immediate appointments, panels will be formed from which National Coordinator and Assistant National Coordinators vacancies may be filled. Due consideration will be given to the needs of Irish language medium schools.

Successful applicants will be seconded from their posts for the academic year 2003/04.

Applicants likely to be called for interview should have most or all of the following:

• At least 3 years' teaching experience as a Principal/Deputy Principal at first or second level in recognised Irish schools.
  
• A broad knowledge of the first and second level school programme in Ireland.
  
• An enterprising approach to tasks and the capability to undertake a substantial innovative and challenging project.
  
• Experience of designing and delivering inservice, e.g. working in a support service, managing projects and/or management in schools.
  
• Involvement in curriculum development.
  
• Good communication, IT and organisational skills.
  
• Good interpersonal, facilitation, presentation and teamwork skills.
  
  

  In addition to the above, applicants for the National Coordinator position should have good leadership skills, be able to promote a team approach and develop the capacity of the team.

  This post will be filled by secondment from among existing Principals and/or Deputy Principals of recognised Irish schools, including those already on secondment, or by others with appropriate expertise and experience at Principal and/or Deputy Principal level who may not be serving at present.

One of the posts at Assistant National Co-ordinator level will be devoted to the management of the on-line aspect of the Programme.

Appointments will be on a full-time basis commencing September 1st, 2003.

The Co-ordinators will not be required to be located in Clare Education Centre; they will be required, however, to travel to the Centre and to other locations as necessary.

Applications are now invited for the above positions from the categories in paragraph 2 mentioned above. Selection will be by way of competitive interview and short-listing may apply.

Further information

Application forms and job description can be obtained from the LDS Administrator, Clare Education Centre, Government Offices, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co. Clare. Tel. 065 6845505, Fax 065 6842930, (e) carinne@ leadership-development-for-schools.ie

Completed application forms should be sent to the LDS Administrator, Clare Education Centre so as to reach the centre by 5 p.m. Wednesday June 11th, 2003

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Education Centres are equal opportunity employers. This initiative is being funded by the Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 - Your plan Your future.

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Published: 09 May 2003

In recent years, many schools around the country are enrolling children from various parts of the world, frequently without a command of the English language.

Currently, if a school has 14 or more such children, the DES will appoint a resource teacher to support their language learning needs (less than 14 are provided with a cash grant).

However, like resource teachers for special needs children initially, there has been no real support structure for English language support teachers and no platform to air their professional issues or share experiences.

A group of teachers providing English language support to overseas pupils in primary schools have recently formed an association, the English Language Support Teachers, (ELST) to:

• provide support and information to fellow ELS teachers,
• form an affiliation with other similar teachers around the country
• present a unified lobby when dealing with the DES and other relevant associations.
• raise awareness of the work of english language support; its aims and objectives within the primary school structure,
  

Regular meetings are held at St. Columba's N.S., Douglas in Cork. At present a website is being set up and it is hoped that more meetings, a Newsletter and guest speakers can be organised for the future.

If you have an English language support teacher, please pass this information to her/him whereuon (s)he can network with similar colleagues throughout the country.

Further information from

Gerard O'Shea (Chairperson, ELST)
St. Columba's Boys' N.S., Douglas, Cork Tel 021-4364938
scoilcholmcille@eircom.net

Áine Kennedy (Secretary, ELST)
St. Columba's Girls' N.S., Douglas, Cork Tel 021-4893947

This initiative should be a great help in providing practical support for and reducing isolation experienced by English Language Support Teachers.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell
Director

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Published: 01 May 2003

Re: Circular 16/03 Post-Graduate Diploma in Special Education

Today the In-Career Development Unit (ICDU) of the Department of Education an Science, contacted us to clarify some points regarding the above Circular (Post-Graduate Diploma Programme in Special Educational Needs for Resource, Special School and Special Class teachers). There apparently has been a lot of confusion regarding this circular within the Primary Sector. Please note the following clarifications.

Application and Selection
School Authorities may allow more than one teacher to apply. However, it is very unlikely that any of the Programmes will be able to offer a place to more than one teacher from any individual school.

Substitution
It is intended that substitution for the relevant periods will be allowed for any eligible teacher in a primary mainstream or special school who is participating in a Programme.

Reminder - Closing Date is Wednesday next May 14th 2003

The Circular is on the Department's WEB address at:
http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/pc16_03.doc

Educationposts.com

To date, more than 12,000 teachers have registered with this web site to avail of its services such as automatic e-mail alerts, text-a-sub, uploading CVs, job sharing partner search and teacher exchange. If you have vacancies in your school this year, why not save 100s of Euro from your Newspaper Advertising by referring to your main advert on www.educationposts.ie

e.g. Newspaper Advert to read:-

Permanent Teacher required, St. Jude's NS Dublin, see www.educationposts.ie for full details.

Avail of the easy step-by-step format to upload your advert with unlimited text to provide more information about the position or your school. For further information about advertising on www.educationposts.ie please contact Sue or Caroline at 1890 21 22 23.

Is mise le meas,
Seán Cottrell Director

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