IPPN

Published: 15 May 2009

This year is the 21st annual conference of the association. We hope that, with your support as presenters and delegates, that it will be as special and memorable as previous events. If you are a long-time attendee come back and join us again this year. If you have never been to our conference join us and see how much the various events and presentation have to offer in term of professional development, information and interaction with teachers and other personnel working with students with special needs in Ireland and abroad. In addition our conference has always been noted for its friendly atmosphere and the warm welcome to all our participants.

The conference will, as usual, be held in St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 from Thursday, 11 June to Saturday, 13 June, 2009. The title is "Partnership for Learning" and there promises to be a wide diversity of papers and discussions on the many facets of the topic. We are looking forward to positive and supportive exchanges and debate especially in this time of doom and gloom in educational and fiscal matters.

As usual the Opening events of conference will be held on Thursday evening, 11 June at 8 pm in the College Auditorium. The Official opening will be followed by the keynote address. This year's keynote speaker is Fergus Finlay, a well known pubic figure from the political arena and more recently active in the area of children's rights and services. After the formalities there will be a reception in the College canteen, kindly hosted by the President of the College, where delegates, presenters and guests can meet and chat.

The conference will then follow the usual format with concurrent paper presentations on Friday and on Saturday morning. The papers will cover a wide range of topics and issues related to the theme of conference. The majority of our presenters come from Ireland but we hope to welcome presenters from Scotland, England, India, and the USA.

There will be a social event early on Friday evening just after the last paper presentation for those delegates and guests who wish to attend. Again details will be given as soon as final arrangements are made. Many delegates like an opportunity to meet in the early evening for a chat and a chance to discuss the conference to date. Then all are free to make their own arrangements for dinner or other options around town!

The conference will finish on Saturday with the Open Forum at 12 noon on Saturday, 14 June. All are invited to attend and participate.

As this is the 40th anniversary of IATSE it is hoped that some of the founder members will come to conference and have a reunion where they might discuss the events and changes of the past forty years. They may share some of their insights and memories with us all at the Open Forum on Saturday before we end conference.

The full programme will be available very shortly and will be displayed on the website and distributed by post to all members of IATSE as well as presenters and guests.

Each year the Department of Education has provided sanction for teachers to attend the Conference subject to certain conditions. The criteria allows for leave of absence for class teachers as well as special needs teachers and teachers in special schools, We are currently awaiting formal notification from the DES for this years conference. As soon as this is available the full details of conditions and criteria will be posted on the website and notified to members.