IPPN

Published: 23 September 2021

Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI), in partnership with the Teaching Council, will once again this year host a series of three workshops to support schools in developing reflective and collaborative learning cultures. The workshops take place in the context of Cosán, the national framework for teachers’ learning and school leaders are especially encouraged to participate. This year, a number of centres will host workshops which have been redesigned to meet the specific needs of primary schools and a number of short briefing sessions for principals will also be organised. For further information, keep an eye on your emails from the Teaching Council or contact your local Education Centre.

Published: 23 September 2021

• 24 September: Schools to submit the Student Attendance Confirmation Form (NCSE Form 6) to their local SENO confirming that new and existing students have taken up or retained their placements
• 24 September: Schools to submit Leavers Form (NCSE Form 5) for students leaving in June 2022 (this should be updated throughout the year should students leave)
• September Returns – Confirmation of enrolments for staffing purposes should be done via the submission of the National School Annual Census through the Primary Online Database (POD)
• 4 October: Teachers who are due to renew their Teaching Council Registration are advised to do so in advance of 4 October 2021 or wait until 14 October 2021, when the Teaching Council launch their updated online payment service
• Staffing Appeals Application Deadline: The closing date for submission of staffing appeals for the 2021/2022 school year to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board is October 2021. Appeals must be submitted to Primary Allocations Section, Department of Education and Skills, Athlone, on the standard application form (Appendix F Circular 0019/2021)
• October Mid Term Break: All schools will close from Monday 26th October 2020 to Friday 30th October 2020 inclusive
• 1 November: The latest date for filling a permanent post on a permanent basis is Monday 1 November 2021. Thereafter, a permanent post may be filled only on a fixed term basis unless the appointee is a permanent/CID holding teacher from the Main Panel.

Published: 23 September 2021

This is the time of year when school leaders turn their minds towards the organisation of annual Parent/Teacher Meetings. While there is a definite government narrative that we are currently in the process of ‘exiting’ the pandemic, is it appropriate to revert to face-to-face Parent/Teacher Meetings for schools?

Neither the Department, HSE or HPSC has updated the advice given to schools in November 2020, which can be accessed here. Until this is updated, current advice is that Parent/Teacher Meetings should be conducted via:

• Video-conferencing e.g. Zoom
• Telephone
• Written report

IPPN will update members immediately through the Live Resource Bundle and e-scéal if and when there is any change to this advice.

Published: 23 September 2021

IPPN will host the Deputy Principals’ Conference 2021 virtually, on Thursday, 11 November from 9:30am to 3.30pm.

Keynote speakers include Dr Harold Hislop Chief Inspector, Ciara O’Donnell National Director of PDST and Dr Harry Barry Author of insightful books on managing change, resilience, anxiety and stress.

There will be six new seminars this year: Co-leadership, Differentiation and Supporting SEN pupils, Dignity and Respect at Work, Self-care, An Plean Scoile – From Concept to Plan/PIEW and Difficult Conversations-going for the Win-Win.

The event is open to deputy principals as well as principals where the deputy principal of the school has registered to attend. Unfortunately, substitute cover is not provided for the event.

Registration information and details of the seminars will follow in next week’s e-scéal.