E-scéal 29th May 2025 - SNA Allocations to Mainstream Schools for 2025-26 / Publication of Child Protection Procedures (2025)

Stay informed via your weekly E-scéal

  • SNA Allocations
  • Child Protection Procedures (2025)
  • Planning Prompts 
  • DE Circulars 
  • Sectoral Updates 
  • 25 Years of IPPN – Interview with President Pat Goff
  • IPPN Roadshow – Workshops
  • Leadership+ Issue 138
  • Please Note
  • Be Well, Lead Well 
  • Did you know? 

SNA Allocations

Circular 0032/2025 issued to schools this week detailing the manner in which Special Needs Assistants are to be allocated to schools to support children with care needs in mainstream classes for the 2025/25 school year.

Points of information

  • Schools will receive an email from the NCSE this week detailing their SNA allocation for 2025/26
  • The full list of allocations to schools will be published on the NCSE website next week.
  • Where a school identifies a significant increase in care needs, additional resources can be provided to support the school, following a request for review by the school with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
  • If a school is dissatisfied with the outcome of a review, it may appeal that decision.
  • Details on grounds for appeal and the appeals mechanism are available via https://ncse.ie/ncse-appeals-process
  • The NCSE will undertake SNA reviews during the 2025/26 school year to compile a real time analysis of SNA deployment across the education system and the requirement nationally for SNA support in schools
  • A toolkit to assist schools in the review, reprioritisation and redeployment of SNA support is available from the NCSE via https://ncse.ie/special-needs-assistants
  • The circular also signposts the planned introduction of a redeployment scheme for SNAs.
  • That redeployment scheme is not yet in place and, therefore, does not impact SNA recruitment for this coming September.

Child Protection Procedures 2025

The DE has published updated Child Protection Procedures for Schools. As in earlier versions (2017 & 2023), these procedures set out requirements to ensure that reporting procedures in line with Children First are in place and that school personnel know how to recognise and report alleged child protection concerns, and that parents/guardians and all school personnel are aware of the school’s child protection and safeguarding procedures.

The updated procedures

  • take account of new legislation in place since the last update of the procedures
  • provide guidance on communicating with parents and on record keeping.

These updated procedures apply to all recognised schools which are attended by children and young people under the age of 18 years. Boards of Management will be required to adopt the updated procedures no later than their last meeting prior to 31 December 2026.

Further professional guidance on the updated procedures will issue in the new school year.

 

Planning Prompts 

In the run up to any holiday period and especially the summer break, be aware of people offloading issues and problems onto the school leader. If you believe that every problem is yours to solve, then your holiday will be spent ruminating on those issues. Simply being aware of this possibility may save you unnecessary stress. You can offer support in helping them to solve their issue, while at the same time not making the problem yours. Be clear, be kind, but be firm.

Read More

 

Circulars

0032/2025 - Special Needs Assistant Allocation 2025/26 / Leithdháileadh Cúntóirí Riachtanas Speisialta 2025/26

Read

Amharc

0041/2025 - Publication of Child Protection Procedures for Schools 2025 / Foilseachán Nósanna Imeachta um Chosaint Leanaí do Scoileanna 2025

Read

Amharc

0042/2025 - Grant Scheme for ICT Infrastructure 2025 / Scéim Deontais le haghaidh Bonneagar TFC 2025

Read

Amharc

Updates

Education Matters Virtual Summit 2025

This event, which will be streamed live on 20th May, brings together expert voices from across the Irish education landscape, from AI and inclusion to curriculum reform, immersive learning and more. IPPN Chair, Catríona O’Reilly, will take part in the segment on Primary Education.

Details and Live Stream https://educationmatterssummit.ie/

25 Years of IPPN – Interview with President Pat Goff

In this series of interviews, IPPN past presidents Damian White and Pat Goff interview each of IPPN’s presidents - including each other! - from its founding in 2000 to its 25th anniversary in 2025.

These interviews provide an exceptionally rich oral history of the organisation in its first quarter century.

This week, we bring you Damian’s discussion with Pat Goff, IPPN President 2009-2011.

View

IPPN Roadshow – Workshops 

Register

Leadership+ Issue 138 - The Power of Positive Relationships!

Emma Stokes, Principal of Phoenix Park Specialist School, Dublin

In our school, we regularly reflect on how we can further improve our practice. We ask difficult questions. We have worked hard to create a culture where staff can lean on each other for support. We rotate SNAs regularly to prevent burnout and have created an environment where staff feel safe both physically and emotionally. The staff themselves go above and beyond in their role; it only takes ‘One Good Adult’ to transform outcomes for children.

https://bit.ly/4moCgUH

Please Note

We have received reports of companies claiming to have a partnership with IPPN. Please exercise caution with third parties making such claims. We will always inform you directly of any offers or partnerships that we officially endorse. If you have received any calls or emails claiming to have a partnership with IPPN, please report it to expo@ippn.ie.

Be Well, Lead Well

Tip # 21 Practical hints and tips to balance stress

HSE Talking and Wellbeing Podcast

This episode explores the Balancing Stress programme; a free, easy to access, evidence-based online course in stress management. It consists of six 35-minute sessions that included practical tools for managing worry, anxiety, low mood, improving relationships, and managing stress.

Podbean: https://lnkd.in/enF2cweP

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ercP6znu

Apple: https://lnkd.in/emZahpAX

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eb-GgtCn

#BeWellLeadWell

 

Insights requested for boys’ wellbeing programme

Primary school teacher Stephen Feeney, in partnership with UCC and the IGNITE programme, is seeking school leaders’ insights to develop The Flourishing Man — a positive behaviour and wellbeing initiative focused on boys. The programme aims to support boys’ emotional growth and resilience in schools. School leaders are invited to share their views by completing a short survey.

Queries can be emailed to feeney.stephen@gmail.com.

Survey

NCCA recruitment

NCCA is currently recruiting for an Education Officer in the area of Special Education (Primary). The vacancy is currently live on the NCCA website (see link below). The closing date for applications is tomorrow, Friday, 30th May (12 noon).

Education Officer for Primary | NCCA

 

IPPN Sponsors

 

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