Professional Guidance - In-person Summer Programme in Special Schools – Special School Student Teacher Placements
- Published: 24 April 2024
As you may be aware, Special Schools who are running an in-person programme have been given leave to employ graduate teachers and PME student teachers who are in their final year to work as a student teacher in a Special School and on the Summer Programme. As the guidance indicates – “Schools can recruit up to two student teachers from the 3rd week in May 2024 (or on completion of exams) until the end of the school based summer programme. This will allow student teachers to gain valuable relevant experience in a special education setting and will assist special schools during a very busy period in their school year. It will also assist with familiarisation and preparation leading into a summer programme.”
To assist special schools in this regard, IPPN will add a credit to the EducationPosts.ie account of each special school that has undertaken to provide an in-person summer programme. This will ensure that schools can advertise these positions without incurring any cost.
It is a matter for each individual school to decide what they require of applicants in terms of submitting an application, however, a letter of application outlining relevant experience and why the applicant would like to be considered for the position might be appropriate information to seek.
The Initial Teacher Education providers will be advised that schools are advertising these positions on educationposts.ie so that they can draw them to the attention of the relevant cohorts of student teachers.
Again, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how they will consider the applications received and what process might be used to determine the most suitable applicants. A formal recruitment process is not required.
Conditions that applicants must satisfy are as follows:
Graduate Teachers
Where the registration process with the Teaching Council has commenced, the graduate teacher must:
1. Have received their final results from their HEI confirming they are eligible for registration with the Teaching Council.
2. Have their Garda vetting completed as part of their application for registration with the Teaching Council.
3. Have their registration with the Council finalised prior to 04 October 2024.
Teachers who are registered under Primary Route 1 can only be paid the primary qualified rate from the registration date as advised by the Teaching Council. Otherwise, the unqualified rate will apply.
PME Student Teachers
Applies to student teachers, who have registered with the Teaching Council under Route 3 – Further Education, who can work on the summer programme.
PME student teachers currently in Year 1 of the programme, who have applied for registration with the Teaching Council under Further Education, can be engaged by special schools if:
1. Garda vetting has been completed as part of their application for registration with the Teaching Council.
2. Their registration with the Council under Further Education will be finalised prior to 04 October 2024.
PME student teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council under the Further Education route will be paid at the unqualified rate for the duration of the internship.
Deakin Survey - Frequently Asked Questions
- Published: 22 April 2024
Answers to the most commonly-asked questions relating to the Deakin survey are:
1. I have registered to do the survey but, when I click the RESUME button it only allows me to leave the page. It does not take me to the survey.
Solution: If the participant clicks ‘RESUME’ and the page does not load, it is usually an issue with their browser. Could you please ask the participant to delete their history. If this does not work, they are requested to try another browser.
2. I think there is an error with the survey as my school does not come up automatically when I type in its name for the question below:
Name of educational institution (where you are employed)
*Please start typing the name of your school name and select it when it appears. If you cannot find it please select/type 'other' and enter your school's details.
Solution: This could be a new school/a new name for an excising one that was not listed in the IRISH database of schools. If this is the case, they can select 'Other' and enter your school's details into the form that opens.
3. I keep trying to verify my password but continue to get a message saying expired verification token pair
Solution: The only issue with resetting passwords is that participants need to input a verification code for security purposes. When a reset of their password is requested, the code is sent to their email address within two minutes. They should check their junk folder if they do not receive the code. If the problem persists, they are probably using not using the email address they registered in previous years. Note the code is only valid for a short time, so you will need to check email and use the code straight away.
4. I tried to complete the questionnaire but it was not letting me past creating a password. It just kept coming up with everything the password needed to have in it even though I had everything it needed in my password.
Solution: Deakin have only encountered this issue if the participant is not formatting their password correctly. Please try a different password and ensure it contains the relevant characters.
5. I have registered for the survey but every time I try to verify my account I get an internal error message.
Solution: Try using a new browser or clear their browser cache and attempt access again.
Participant has tried accessing the survey from a different device or internet browser and this has not worked
Suggested that participant would use a different email, preferably a personal email, for registration – advice is that she would not have any issues with a new email.
6. I am unable to access the survey which I completed before. I have changed email addresses but neither my current or old email address seems to be recognised!
Solution: email sent to Deakin to establish what email account was used and discovered that participant was not on Deakin data - participant is using incorrect email address
7. When I log in to complete the survey the following message is appearing for me? Can you advise me what to do from here?
'No surveys available at the moment'.
Solution: This issue stems from cached data in the browser. The participant has two options: s/he can either clear her/his browsing history or opt to use a different browser.
8. Password issue
Solution: This issue shall be sorted out by resetting the password again and entering the correct password at log-in.
DCU National Survey on the Inclusion of Autistic Pupils in Irish Primary Schools
- Published: 17 April 2024
The Autism-Friendly Schools Research Project is a national study of inclusive education led by researchers at the DCU Institute of Education and the RCSI. The team will shortly be seeking the views of the wider school community in a nationwide survey.
Through stratified sampling, a representative selection of schools in Ireland will be randomly chosen to participate. Each principal of the selected schools will receive a formal invitation via email in the coming weeks from researchers at the DCU Institute of Education. This email will include a survey link for all school staff members (teachers, school leaders, SNAs, receptionists, etc.) and all parents of pupils attending the school. The survey, which takes 12 to 15 minutes to complete, examines knowledge of autism and attitudes towards inclusive education.
As you are aware, the provision of quality education for autistic pupils is an important and timely issue in Ireland. To develop meaningful and implementable recommendations that bring about positive change, involvement of selected schools is crucial, and your participation if contacted would be greatly appreciated.
You can learn more about the Autism-Friendly Schools Research Project on our webpage: https://www.dcu.ie/instituteofeducation/autism-friendly-schools-project
Dr Sinéad McNally Associate Professor, DCU Institute of Education
Postgraduate Diploma in School Leadership (PDSL)
- Published: 17 April 2024
The following information may be of interest to teachers in your school who have five or more year’s post-qualification experience.
The Postgraduate Diploma in School Leadership (PDSL) / Dioplóma Gairmiúil i gCeannaireacht Scoile (DGCS) is designed to prepare emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills, confidence and qualifications for senior school leadership positions.
The programme is delivered in centres nationally by leading lecturers in Irish education, as well as tutors with extensive experience in educational leadership, and is part-funded by the DE and Oide.
In addition to learning about the theory and practice of leadership, participants will also experience two ‘situated learning opportunities’ (leadership visits) over the duration of the programme. Participants will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding and apply the knowledge and skills acquired through situated learning experiences that provide opportunities to observe leadership in action.
The application process is open and all information is available via www.ul.ie/pdsl.
Representation made to the Primary Education Forum re STEM grant application process and all further grants to support curriculum implementation
- Published: 10 April 2024
At the Primary Education Forum on the 25th March 2024, IPPN raised the issue on behalf of members regarding grant funding to primary schools under ‘Supports for Curriculum Change’, as part of Forbairt, the DE Annual Statement of Priorities 2024.
“I would like to speak about grant funding to primary schools as part of supports for curriculum implementation. To start with a positive, I’d like to thank the DE for recognising that schools needed additional financial supports this year and issuing the Cost-of-Living Grant to schools in Oct. 2023 and Jan. 2024.
Much discontent has been expressed by our members regarding the STEM grants process in Nov/Dec 2023. A lottery was not listed as a methodology in the Guidelines for this application process, but it was decided to use this to deal with the high number of applicants.
The of the STEM application process was delivered two days before the Christmas holidays, Wednesday 20th December, after school at 4:24 pm and this was considered very bad timing.
532 schools were successful out of a total of 2,700 who applied.
The wellbeing of many Principals was so affected by this process, with many reporting that they had spent hours/days on this application, which required a plan, costings etc.
Over 2,000 schools were shocked and disappointed that they got zero funding while others got 10,000 euro.
Capitation grants issued to schools are used initially to pay utilities, which are ever increasing, and if anything is left, this is then used for resources…I know this so well from my own experience as Principal.
We need resources to teach subjects - STEM, PE, Art - in fact all curriculum subjects to primary-aged children.
We were further disappointed to see similar application processes for grants required for the recent PE-Pilot project Physical Activity in Teaching & Learning. We believe that an application process to seek funding for grants to support curriculum areas is pitting schools against each other, a totally unfair approach to fund resources for subject areas, with some schools receiving no funding at all.
We’d ask the DE to consider a fair and equitable approach going forward. We are asking for funding for all schools, for curricular areas, especially in light of the new curriculum.
Note this is in line with Goal 2 of the Forbairt doc., to ensure equity of opportunity in education…this includes resources and funding. We ask for equally shared grant funding for all schools going forward”.
Louise Tobin, IPPN President
