TextaParent Update
- Published: 15 June 2023
As schools are about to finish for the 2022/2023 school year please make sure the TextaParent account email is up to date. To check this
- Log on to the account using the Principal’s Profile (P)
- Go to the admin area which can be accessed by clicking the name on the top right of the screen
- Go to ’School Profile’ – the email address that is entered here will receive all purchase invoices and communication from the TextaParent team.
Pilot Project: Counselling and Mental Health Supports to Primary Schools
- Published: 08 June 2023
IPPN welcomes the recent announcement by the Minister of a pilot to provide counselling supports to children in emotional distress. Phase 2 of the pilot aims to establish psychotherapeutic supports in schools for children, staff and parents.
In 2016, IPPN facilitated a symposium to raise awareness and put wellbeing at the heart of each school community. Since then, IPPN has worked with the Wellbeing for All group (Ombudsman for Children, Teaching Council, National Parents Council, NAPD and IPPN) to influence a culture of emotional wellness in schools, ensured that this area become a priority at every event for members, made a submission and attended the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Mental Health (JOC), advocating for school community-based mental health supports to help children directly, where they learn.
The mental health problems experienced by children since the pandemic have underlined even more the urgency of addressing the needs of children, their parents and school staff. Early intervention, joined-up thinking, an integrated approach across health and education and timely access to supports for children are urgently needed.
The pilot is a first step in what is hoped will become a mental health support infrastructure available to all schools nationally. IPPN is committed to supporting the schools involved in the pilot, as well as working with all the stakeholders involved to ensure a successful outcome. This close working relationship between all parties is a welcome development.
ICT Grant – Delayed Payment
- Published: 08 June 2023
IPPN notes that the ICT Grant, due for payment in the third term, has not yet been paid and that the grant is not listed on the FSSU schedule of grants for 2022/23. IPPN has sought clarity from the FSSU and the DE as to why the grant has not yet issued to schools and when schools can expect to receive it. The following is the response received today from the DE :
“Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.
It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in the 2023-2024 school year. As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department. It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years and you will be kept informed of developments for the current year.”
The non-payment of the ICT Grant directly compromises and undermines the coherent implementation of a digital strategy in schools. It would be advisable that the issue of the non-payment of the grant is flagged at the next meeting of the school’s Board of Management in keeping with the Board’s oversight role in relation to budgeting, income and expenditure. Boards who are concerned about this issue should represent such concerns to their patron/management bodies.
Teacher Appointment Forms
- Published: 24 May 2023
Teacher Appointment & Re-appointment Forms have been issued by the department for the 2023/2024 school year. Please note that there are two separate forms to notify the DE of permanent and fixed term appointments this year. The re-appointment form is completed for any teacher who has worked in a fixed capacity in the school for 2022/2023 school year.
Some schools have expressed concern at the response rate to their advertised vacancies on EducationPosts.ie. Many final year students are in the process of finishing their primary degree assignments and thesis and may not be engaging in the recruitment process. It is expected that final coursework for newly qualified teachers will be submitted in the coming weeks. This may be a contributing factor to a low response rate to schools that advertised teaching vacancies to date. It may be advisable to review the timeline for your recruitment and teacher appointment process to increase the teacher application rate.
Commencement of Teaching Council Regulations 2023
- Published: 24 May 2023
On Thursday, 11 May 2023, Minister for Education consented to regulations under section 37 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 as amended. The regulations ‘Teaching Council (Information to be furnished by employer in case of dismissal or resignation of registered teacher) Regulations 2023’. There is now a statutory obligation on the BoM to inform the Teaching Council where a teacher has been dismissed, or resigns following from the making of a complaint or invoking of a disciplinary process at school level. It will then be a matter for the Teaching Council to decide whether any further action is necessary from a regulatory perspective.
