IPPN

Published: 08 March 2018

The DES has confirmed that it has no issue with schools using IPPN’s Child Protection Risk Assessment Template as an alternative to the DES version. They are described as living documents that are to be added to over time.

The IPPN alternative was introduced by facilitators at our regional briefing seminars on new Child Protection procedures and practices and the response to the template was and continues to be very positive.

Additionally, there is a lot of discussion on the publication/display of the Child Safeguarding Statement & Risk Assessment. To clarify, the Risk Assessment element is an integral part of the Child Safeguarding Statement and therefore must be published as part of same. Both elements should be viewed as one when complying with the statutory requirement.

Published: 05 March 2018

Guidance is provided to Boards of Management in DES Circular 0009/2017 Section 4, in determining whether a school is required to make up the pupil contact time lost due to the recent severe weather conditions. The circular provides a list of flexible options for the Board to consider in making a decision regarding the teaching time lost.

This guidance sets out a structured approach to determining the measures to be put in place to make up for lost tuition time. The guidance provides that, subject to consensus at local level, any changes to normal practice that can be made to address the shortfalls should be put in place.

Examples are given in the circular to address this issue, such as prioritising tuition over non-tuition activities and prioritising learning in the classroom over activities such as school tours etc.

Refer to circular for detailed options.

Published: 01 March 2018

Siobhán Keenan Fitzgerald developed the Let's Stand programme to teach public speaking to children. In an interview with Seán Delaney on his Inside Education radio programme on Dublin City FM, Siobhán outlines the difference between public speaking and debating, she tells the story of how a presentation she gave in Japanese to a group of Japanese tea-ladies reinforced for her the power of public speaking and explains how she began to apply principles of Toastmasters to her teaching. Siobhán is principal of Eglish National School in Galway, which is recognised as a Changemaker School. Click here to listen to the interview.

In this part of the interview, Siobhán talks about how, as principal, she introduced the programme in the school, uses video examples of public speaking in her teaching and how the school was selected as a Changemaker School.

In November 2016, Siobhán won the over 19s category in the National Final of the European Direct Soapbox Competition. You can watch her winning poetic speech. Click here to listen to the interview.

Presented and produced by Seán Delaney, Registrar at Marino Institute of Education.

Published: 01 March 2018

We are fast approaching the March 11th deadline for Boards of Management to publish their Child Safeguarding and Risk Assessment Statements.

IPPN is supporting school leaders with this task in a number of ways.

• IPPN in collaboration with all 21 Education Centres are hosting information sessions. The vast majority have already taken place
• The remainder are due to take place next week in advance of the deadline. Our 3 facilitators, Maria Doyle, Donal Kerins and David Ruddy have reported on the large turnouts and the high engagement levels of participants
• A comprehensive Resource Bundle has been in place for the past few weeks. The Bundle attempts to supply all the critical information that you and your staff need to be familiar with, as well as supporting the DES Procedures. It includes one page documents known as Principals’ Aid Memoires (PAMS) which can be used for training or quick reference guides.
  

The PDST online modules went live last weekend.

• IPPN would like to acknowledge the frustration of school leaders in relation to the Tusla website crashing. IPPN has offered to host their online module
• The March 11th deadline and the organisation of in-service for staff has placed a lot of extra work on the shoulders of you, our school leaders. IPPN will continue to support you. IPPN is proud to have a membership who takes so seriously the safety and protection of our children.