Home Based Summer Programme
- Published: 11 May 2023
The DE has now published details of the Home Based Summer Programme. This year, the DE is providing an online portal to allow schools to submit a student’s details and confirm eligibility. A sanction email will issue to the parents and school to confirm eligibility and the hours allocated to the student. The link for the Online Sanctioning Portal will be circulated to schools by email and the Portal will remain open until Friday 9 June 2023.
What’s New?
- A teacher can deliver a programme for students in a group of up to three. Parents may enter into an arrangement with a registered teacher to tutor their child in a small group, up to a maximum of 3 children
- For groups of 4 or larger, the Department will continue to approve Private Group Provider Arrangements between parents and private providers as it has done in previous years. The terms and conditions of Private Group Provider Arrangements must be followed.
- Additionally, allocations to siblings will no longer be a shared allocation. Each student will be sanctioned on an individual basis.
Tri-nations summit, ‘Exploring System Leadership’
- Published: 11 May 2023
A Tri- nation’s summit, Exploring System Leadership in collaboration with CSL Ireland, National Academy for Educational Leadership Wales and Education Scotland will take place on Tuesday 6 June. This online, free summit begins at 4pm and lasts approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. During this time, the summit will examine shared understandings of system leadership across the three nations and offer opportunities for networking and collaboration. It will interrogate effective system leadership and its potential to drive school improvement, policy formation and enactment, and further develop leadership capacity.
Places are limited and booking is essential. Click here for more information and to book your place
External Research – Perspectives on the ‘Looking at Our Schools’ (LAOS) Framework
- Published: 11 May 2023
Primary school teacher Aideen Ahern, a second-class teacher and Assistant Principal II in North Presentation Primary School, Cork City is conducting research for a Masters in Education (School Leadership) through the University of Limerick, which aims to explore the perceptions of school leaders (middle and senior) on the LAOS 2022 policy. Primary school leaders (principals and deputy principals) are invited to take part in a semi-structured, one-to-one interview (approx. 45 minutes duration) with a member of the research team, supervised by Dr Paul Butler, school principal and tutor with University Limerick.
If you would like more information, please email Aideen at 21291764@studentmail.ul.ie.
This research study has received ethics approval from the Education and Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee (2023-04-09). If you have any concerns about this study and wish to contact someone independently you may contact Chair Education and Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, EHS Faculty Office, University of Limerick, Tel (061) 234101.
Webinar - Recruiting and Managing School Staff
- Published: 11 May 2023
Mason Hayes & Curran in collaboration with IPPN will be hosting a webinar on the topic of Look Before You Leap - Recruiting and Managing School Staff. The webinar will take place on Monday, 22 May from 3:30pm-4:30pm. Items of discussion will include potential pitfalls of recruitment, contracts, dealing with underperformance and possible disciplinary proceedings.
Managing an Unexpected Difficult Conversation
- Published: 11 May 2023
The final term of the school year often brings with it conflict, arguments and tensions. Many of these escalate from seemingly minor issues into managing a sudden difficult conversation for which you are unprepared. Difficult conversations at this time of the year can arise from the splitting and grouping of classes, class allocation or complaints about incidents arising with children. These may take place with staff or parents. The essential element in any conversation is preparation, but managing a conversation where emotions are high requires a calm positive response.
All communication takes place within the context of a relationship. It may not be the right time or place to have a conversation. The other person will have rehearsed what they are about to say. However, do not end a conversation like this abruptly. Reassure the person that you want to understand their perspective and seek to resolve the issue together. In order to do this, you need to give it the time it deserves. Agree a time to have the conversation. Write a script in your mind for the words you would use and become comfortable with them.
It may be something such as
“I would like to talk to you about _____ and would first like to hear your point of view, so that we can resolve this together.” Write your own script when there is no issue. Rehearse it. This gives you time to prepare for the conversation. Remember that it is not all about you and not all about the other person. It is all about achieving a balance between listening and talking.
The Communications Resource Bundle in the Resources section of www.ippn.ie may be useful in preparing for a difficult conversation. The IPPN Leadership Support Team are available also to assist and support you in this regard.
