Covid Leave Changes
- Published: 18 May 2023
Amendments to Covid leave with pay were issued by the Department on Monday, 15 May 2023 in Information Note TC/IN 0004/2023 following the publication of updated HSE advice and guidance.
With effect from Monday, 22 May 2023 school staff who begin to display Covid-19 symptoms or test positive for Covid-19 will have a maximum limit of 5 consecutive days special leave with pay (including weekends and school closures). Changes to the operation of the special leave with pay scheme will not affect staff who have commenced leave prior to Monday, 22 May. DE Circular 38/2022 will continue to apply with staff being eligible to avail of a maximum 7 consecutive days leave with special pay.
Primary Mathematics Curriculum
- Published: 18 May 2023
The Department has published updated information on the introduction of the Primary Mathematics Curriculum (PMC) for primary and special schools. The new curriculum will be introduced in all primary and special schools in September 2023. The embedding of the curriculum from Junior Infants to sixth class (stages 1 – 4) will begin in September 2024. From September 2023, Oide will provide schools with a range of face to-face and online supports to introduce implement and embed PMC over the course of a three-phase CPD framework.
Click here to view Initial communication re Primary Mathematics Curriculum [English] [Irish]
Energy Bills & Book Procurement
- Published: 18 May 2023
Rising energy costs remains a hot topic for some schools due to the increased costs and the lack of school finances. Guidance issued to schools from the Schools Procurement Unit and FSSU. Boards were advised to register for the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) Utilities Contract to secure security of tariffs up to 30/4/2024 for Electricity and up to 31/8/2024 for Gas. The 'late' signup for schools that have not already signed up, but plan to do so will offer protection between dates of sign up until the dates mentioned above.
Schools are preparing for the implementation of the Free Books Scheme for September and are currently seeking three quotes from book suppliers. Cost of course will be a factor in deciding the successful quote. However, schools might also consider which supplier best meets the needs of the school in terms of administering the implementation of the scheme before a decision is made.
Recruitment Webinar – Have you booked?
- Published: 18 May 2023
On Monday, 22 May 2023 at 3.30pm, a not to be missed webinar for schools engaging in the recruitment process is being provided by Mason Hayes & Curran in collaboration with IPPN. Topics discussed in the hour-long webinar ‘Look before You Leap - Recruiting and Managing School Staff’ include potential pitfalls of recruitment, contracts, dealing with underperformance and possible disciplinary proceedings.
Home Based Summer Programme
- Published: 11 May 2023
The DE has now published details of the Home Based Summer Programme. This year, the DE is providing an online portal to allow schools to submit a student’s details and confirm eligibility. A sanction email will issue to the parents and school to confirm eligibility and the hours allocated to the student. The link for the Online Sanctioning Portal will be circulated to schools by email and the Portal will remain open until Friday 9 June 2023.
What’s New?
- A teacher can deliver a programme for students in a group of up to three. Parents may enter into an arrangement with a registered teacher to tutor their child in a small group, up to a maximum of 3 children
- For groups of 4 or larger, the Department will continue to approve Private Group Provider Arrangements between parents and private providers as it has done in previous years. The terms and conditions of Private Group Provider Arrangements must be followed.
- Additionally, allocations to siblings will no longer be a shared allocation. Each student will be sanctioned on an individual basis.
