IPPN

Published: 15 September 2004

Schools Targeted with Financial Scam

Over the last few weeks a number of different principals have contacted the IPPN Support Office concerned that they have been caught by a clever scam. It appears that schools in Ireland are receiving letters from a company in Spain inviting principals to submit their school's details to a "European Guide". The letter appears quite innocent and is similar to other initiatives that encourage European schools to interact with each other and enhance international educational opportunities. Unfortunately, somewhere in the small print there is reference to a cost of €857! Naturally, principals were shocked by this invoice and attempted to disengage from the 'contract' which they were supposedly signed up to. In some cases, 'legal representatives', have been writing and telephoning the school using intimidating and threatening language, demanding immediate payment. From the evidence to date, the whole venture appears to be quite underhand and nothing short of an elaborate scam. IPPN recommends that you ignore requests for payment no matter how threatening the nature of communications. In the interest of others, please inform colleagues of this development.

Computer Networking Grant

Letters were sent from the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) to schools at the end of June referring to an application process to access a grant from NCTE to improve computer networking facilities in schools. The deadline for receiving applications is September 27th. It appears that this deadline has been forgotten by many principals / ICT co-ordinators, on the basis on enquiries received by IPPN. If you have any queries about processing your application, please contact the NCTE at 01 7008200. Full details and a copy of the letter sent to schools is available at www.ncte.ie

Funding for Cross Border Projects

Opportunities to participate in cross border and cross community projects are currently available to schools and organisations in counties Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo & Donegal. 'NcompasS' is the title of the project specific to this aspect of Largas activity. Funding comes under the EU programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. Full information and application forms are available from:
Eva Creely, NcompasS Co-ordinator, Leargas, Tel: 01 8731411 Fax: 01 8731316
e-mail: ecreely@leargas.ie, www.ncompass.org

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell,
Director,
Irish Primary Principals' Network.

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Leadership Development for Schools: Appointment

• Associate Tutors
• Part Time Facilitators

Leadership Development for Schools (LDS) is a national programme which provides training and development for school leaders. The Programme is administered by Clare Education Centre. Applications are invited for the positions outlined above.
Applicants should be serving principal teachers (who currently hold permanent posts in recognised schools and from principal teachers seconded from such schools).

Associate Tutors will assist in the design and delivery of programmes of professional development for school leaders. Appointments will be made on a part time basis (approximately 10-15 days per year).

Part Time Facilitators will assist in the delivery of the LDS Programme for up to 5 days per year. Applications from "Teaching Principals" are particularly welcome.

The Application form is available for download from the Clare Education Centre website (address below). Completed application forms should be returned to: The Administrator, Clare Education Centre, Government Offices, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co. Clare not later than 5pm on Monday 4th October 2004.

Please visit http://www.clare-education-centre.ie/services/lds/index.html for further information.

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Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell,
Director,
Irish Primary Principals' Network.

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Published: 04 September 2004

Further opportunities to engage in the professional development of school leaders arise with LDS - Leadership Development for Schools. Details of the positions advertised by LDS are contained in this e-scéal. Although LDS is administered from Clare Education Centre, members of the LDS team are not required to be based in Clare. If you have appropriate experience and competency in this area, I encourage you to apply for these new vacancies. Please note that the advert states 'applications from Teaching Principals are particularly welcome'.

All enquiries concerning this advertisement should be made to LDS, c/o Clare Education Centre - 065 6845505

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell,
Director,
Irish Primary Principals' Network.

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Leadership Development for Schools: Appointments

• Associate Tutors
• Part Time Facilitators

Leadership Development for Schools (LDS) is a national programme which provides training and development for school leaders. The Programme is administered by Clare Education Centre. Applications are invited for the positions outlined above.
Applicants should be serving principal teachers (who currently hold permanent posts in recognised schools and from principal teachers seconded from such schools).

Associate Tutors will assist in the design and delivery of programmes of professional development for school leaders. Appointments will be made on a part time basis (approximately 10-15 days per year).

Part Time Facilitators will assist in the delivery of the LDS Programme for up to 5 days per year. Applications from "Teaching Principals" are particularly welcome.

The Application form is available for download from the Clare Education Centre website (address below). Completed application forms should be returned to: The Administrator, Clare Education Centre, Government Offices, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co. Clare not later than 5pm on Monday 4th October 2004.

Please visit http://www.clare-education-centre.ie/services/lds/index.html for further information.

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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.

Read more ...