Pre-school 'vital' to future education achievement [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 19 May 2011
A growing recognition that youngsters who have attended pre-school perform better throughout the education system could lead to a new focus for attempts to raise standards.
The Irish Independent reports that a recent Draft Plan to Improve Literacy and Numeracy in Schools has called for higher-quality teaching at this early stage in order to give children a better chance for their future.
Chief executive of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment Anne Looney told the newspaper that a combination of basic education and play can be crucial in this stage of a child's development.
"There is growing agreement that play has a crucial role in children's early learning,' she said.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Rules of the playground! [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 19 May 2011
I have something to get off my chest about playgrounds. You see, they bother me. Not because I don’t like them; I do. Very much, and the fact that there is a shiny, brand new one about to be opened at the end of my road is fabulous news for the community. But they bother me because some children just don’t seem to understand the rules of playground play.
Take, for example, the simple slide. Now, I might be very old fashioned and totally out of touch, but as far as I was aware slides are for coming down? Right? There is usually a set of steps or a rope ladder or some climbing device provided for the kids to make their way to the top of the slide. Right? So why, oh why, do some children insist on spoiling all the fun for everyone else and running back up the slide when there is clearly a queue of kids at the top waiting to come down?
This absolutely infuriates me. I’ve lost count of the number of times I have had to explain to someone else’s child – and usually a child of school-going age who clearly understands the technicalities of using a slide – that they are going to have to move out of the way or nobody else will be able to come down.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
DES Circular 0030/2011 [education.ie]
- Published: 19 May 2011
Circular 0030/2011 Arrangements for the 2011/2012 School Year in Relation to Learning Support/Resource Teacher (LS/RT) and Resource Teacher (RT) Posts - Full and Part time Posts
Click here to view
Teaching cap 'affecting special needs students' [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 18 May 2011
A freeze on the number of teachers available to provide support for children with special needs and learning difficulties has led to a soaring number who are being taught in mainstream schools without the help they need.
According to the Irish Independent, more than 84,000 students who may benefit from additional support are now in standard educational facilities – accounting for almost one in ten pupils in primary and secondary schools.
The Department of Education has placed a cap of 9,950 resource teachers for the next educational year and has frozen the application process.
This means that if schools need extra support for students arriving in September, they may have to contact other establishments in the area to see if staff are available.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Minister Cannon launches AEOA Strategic Framework 2011-2016 [education.ie]
- Published: 18 May 2011
The Minister for Training and Skills, Ciarán Cannon TD, today launched the Adult Education Officers' Association (AEOA) Strategic Framework 2011-2016 at Kilashee House, Naas, Co Kildare.
The Framework "Contributing to the National Adult Education & Skills Agenda" sets out the policies that the association will follow over the next five years to enhance its members’ performance and that of the adult education sector.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Cannon paid tribute to the AEOA and its members.
"Over the last two months I have been learning about the various structures, levels and sheer scale of the adult and further education sector and it is clear to me that adult education officers (AEO) have a central role to play in the provision of adult education services.
"Adult Education Officers have been to the forefront in the development of the sector in Ireland for over thirty years and the service has come a long way in such a short period of time.
"Currently there are over 130,000 adult learners availing of part-time education and well over 40,000 availing of fulltime places mostly within the VEC sector.
"I commend you for your hard work and professionalism - you are certainly making a difference to the lives of many people," said the Minister.
He also spoke of the difficult financial challenges currently faced by the country.
Minister Cannon said: "The key challenge for us all is to achieve more with less resources.
"To do this we must work more closely together, using the knowledge and experience of the various stakeholders in education and training to implement the best policies and approach.
Full Story: www.education.ie
