Department of Education Fortnightly Update

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Fortnightly Update: 18 May 2023

Latest circulars

 

3 May

Scheme for the Award of Incremental Credit to Post Primary Teachers who have prior service as a Youthreach Resource Person or a Youthreach Co- ordinator

10 May

Voluntary Search and Rescue Leave for Registered Teachers employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools

View all circulars here

Latest publications

4 May

Towards a New Literacy, Numeracy and Digital literacy Strategy

18 May

Famine Remembrance – Invitation to schools to observe a minute of silent reflection at midday on Friday 19 May

8 May

Inspectorate Updates

View all publications here

Latest press releases

16 May

International study shows Ireland in top performing countries in literacy at primary school reading in spite of pandemic

   Latest announcements

SNAs – Have your say on Learning and Development

The Department of Education’s new SNA Workforce Development unit is reviewing learning and development for SNAs. A series of focus groups forms phase 1 of this review. To register, See gov.ie/SNAworkforce. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

 

Important dates

BLAST: Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers, Arts in Education residency initiative.

The aim of this initiative is to give students in schools all over the country the opportunity to work with a professional artist on unique projects to be planned and developed between the artist, the teacher and the school under the co-ordination of the Education Support Centres Ireland ESCI network of 21 full-time education centres. This initiative supports children and young people for the future, where skills like the ability to connect and collaborate with others, engage in creative and critical thinking and practice inclusivity at every level will be paramount to peace, stability, sustainable economic growth and equality.

 

Guidelines and application form are available from gov.ie/Blast  The application process is open and will close on 19 May 2023.

Department of Education Fortnightly Update

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Fortnightly Update: 4 May 2023

Latest circulars

25 April

Standardised Testing 2023

 

27 April

Special Needs Assistant Allocation 2023/24

View all circulars here

Latest publications

28 April

SNAs – Have your say on Learning and Development

View all publications here

Latest press releases

 

24 April

Minister Byrne encourages schools to help inform review of the Guidelines on the Use of School Buildings outside of School Hours

 

24 April

Minister for Education Norma Foley encourages all families intending on applying for school transport services for the first time for the next school year to register before the closing date of 28 April

 

26 April

Ministers Foley and Madigan announce the payment of grants to eliminate the costs of schoolbooks in primary schools and special schools

 

3 May 2023

Department of Education confirms 15,458 Ukrainian pupils currently enrolled in Irish schools

Latest announcements 

SNAs – Have your say on Learning and Development

The Department of Education’s new SNA Workforce Development unit is reviewing learning and development for SNAs. A series of focus groups forms phase 1 of this review. To register, See gov.ie/SNAworkforce. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

 

Inspectorate letter to Schools

The Inspectorate has issued a letter to all schools about improvement in the learning experiences and learning outcomes of all pupil through the advice and support they give to teachers and school leaders. More information can be found here.

 

Important dates

BLAST: Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers, Arts in Education residency initiative.

The aim of this initiative is to give students in schools all over the country the opportunity to work with a professional artist on unique projects to be planned and developed between the artist, the teacher and the school under the co-ordination of the Education Support Centres Ireland ESCI network of 21 full-time education centres. This initiative supports children and young people for the future, where skills like the ability to connect and collaborate with others, engage in creative and critical thinking and practice inclusivity at every level will be paramount to peace, stability, sustainable economic growth and equality.

 

Guidelines and application form are available from gov.ie/Blast  The application process is open and will close on 19 May 2023.

 

Creative Clusters

Creative Clusters is a national programme of local projects and the 21 full-time education support centres across Ireland are lead partners in the initiative. They will have a key role in identifying and supporting a Creative Cluster for their local area.  Individual schools, existing networks of schools and potential clusters of schools must apply to their local full-time education support centre outlining their rationale for taking part in Creative Clusters initiative by 5pm on Friday, 12 May 2023. Guidelines and application form can be found here

 

 Say Yes to Languages

The module is aimed at 3rd to 6th class and the school can select the language of choice depending on its demographic and school context. The length of the module in 2023/24 is 8 weeks. The grant to schools participating has been increased to €400 per classroom up to a maximum of €1,600.The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is 5pm on Friday 12th May 2023. More Information can be found here

View all press releases here

Follow the Department on Twitter at @Education_Ire; on LinkedIn at https://ie.linkedin.com/company/department-of-education-rep.-of-ireland and on our website https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-education/

 

 

NAPD Annual Member’s Conference October 2023

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Registration for the NAPD Annual Member’s Conference is now open.

To register you need to be a current term 2022/2023 fully paid NAPD Member.

Our new term Member’s Registration will open in June 2023. An email will be issued to all for registration.

The Conference will take place in The Galmont Hotel, Galway Wednesday 11th October to Friday 13th October 2023.

The conference will begin at 4 pm with the opening of Registration and then the President’s welcome will begin at 5 pm followed by our AGM. Further schedule to be confirmed.

The conference will conclude on Friday 13th October at 12:30 pm

Delegates will also have the option to attend the following events on Wednesday 11th October before the conference begins,

  • The 2nd Annual Golf Outing,
  • Yoga, The Galmont Hotel,
  • Galway City Walking Tour.

More details will be emailed in due course.

Please note the following:

  • You must be a Fully Paid member for term 2023/2024 of the NAPD to attend the Annual Conference
  • A Membership invoice for 2023/2024 will be issued in June 2023 once you register
  • Registration is for ONE Delegate Only, if two, three, or four would like to attend from one school, registration is needed for each individual and cannot be shared
  • To avoid any disappointment your Conference fee must be paid before Conference takes place in October 2023
  • If you use a PO System for invoices, can you please raise this PO and add it when you are registering
  • Once you register you will receive an automatic email from NAPD confirming you have booked your place, your place will then be fully confirmed upon receipt of payment.

Accommodation Information:

This booking form is to attend the NAPD Conference in October 2023. Your Conference Fee does not include your accommodation. NAPD is not responsible for the booking of the delegate’s accommodation and all queries are to be directed to the hotel itself.

To book accommodation in any of the hotels with the NAPD rates you must be a NAPD Member 2022/2023.

To note: If you book your hotel you must still register to attend the conference through NAPD, booking your accommodation does not automatically book you into the conference

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Hotel Information:
You must book a minimum of two nights to avail of the NAPD Rates and Delegate Hotels:

Galmont Hotel;

Single: €155 Bed & Breakfast per night

Double/ Twin : €175 Bed & Breakfast per night

Connacht Hotel:

Single €119 B&B

Double/Twin €129 B&B

Hyde Hotel:

11th October €160 B&B – Single/ €170 B&B – Twin

12th October: €170 B&B – Single/ €180 B&B – Twin

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We look forward to welcoming you all back to The Galmont Hotel in October.

Click on the image below to register or here

Pre-retirement Course

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Thinking of retiring in the next 5 years?

Have you questions on:

Financial Planning? Pension entitlements? AVCs? Managing your time? Active retirement?

Then, the  NAPD pre-retirement course in partnership with Cornmarket is for you.

Webinar followed by individual consultation from Cornmarket financial consultant will take place on,

Wednesday 17th May from 2pm to 4pm

Register Here 

NAPD Deputy Director Announcement

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Following a national competitive recruitment process, the National Executive Committee of the National Association of Principals and Deputies (NAPD) are delighted to announce the appointment of Rachel O’Connor as Deputy Director of the association. Rachel O’ Connor has been the Principal of Ramsgrange Community School since 2013 and will take up her new role as Deputy Director of NAPD on the 1st of September 2023.

Rachel is currently past-President of NAPD having served her term as President during the 2021/22 academic year, culminating in the national conference in Galway in October 2022, our first in person conference since 2019 and our best ever attended. Rachel inspired us all at conference and since then has continued working tirelessly within NAPD to deliver for members.

Rachel brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise to the role. She has worked in the three post-primary sectors and has leadership experience in two of them.  Rachel worked as a Whole School Associate with JCT. She is a Leadership Associate with PDST delivering on both Misneach and Comhar for newly appointed Principals and Middle Leaders. Rachel is a co-founder of the WILL Network, launching a series of workshops ‘Aspiring Female Leaders in Education’, WILL Chats and WILL Brunch for aspiring and inspiring female leaders nationwide.  Rachel is a qualified life and professional coach and a CSL Mentor also.

Rachels leadership style and her excellent interpersonal skills will continue to unite school leaders nationally thereby improving the processes for our people, who are the NAPD members. Her drive, dedication and commitment to school leadership are second to none and will raise the profile of our association in the best interest of our members. While her passion in the area of pedagogy will undoubtedly bring a renewed energy and passion for sustainable leadership, supporting all school leaders to deliver in the job that they love.

I am sure you will join me in wishing Rachel every success in her new role, all of her experience to date has brought her to this point and we all look forward to working closely with Rachel to deliver on the Statement of Strategy 2022-2027.

 

Ar aghaidh le chéile

 

ARAG Members Policy

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FAO NAPD Members

The policy comes into effect on 1st November 2018 for fully paid up NAPD members.  You can check your status on your personal profile when you log into the members section of the NAPD website.

For members who renew their membership after that date the policy comes into effect two (2) weeks after payment appears on your personal profile.

A review document will be published on the NAPD website shortly and I would ask you to please complete the form should you have occasion to use the services provided.  This will enable NAPD to improve the effectiveness of this indemnity policy in meeting members’ needs.

In the normal course of events, when faced with a complex situation Principals and Deputy Principals seek advice from trusted colleagues, fellow NAPD members or NAPD Head Office, Management Bodies, Trustees, Chair (BOM) or their UNION and this policy is not intended to replace any of these avenues of support.

The purpose and scope of this insurance policy is to provide Indemnity for Legal Expenses incurred by NAPD members in the discharge of their professional responsibilities which are not covered by their Employers or Unions or where the Principal/Deputy Principal is not a member of a Union. 

  

These are the key contact numbers:

 LEGAL ADVICE SERVICE:  Call 01 670 7474

COUNSELLING:                     Call  01 881 8047

Three documents below relating to the ARAG Policy

ARAG Policy Wording

ARAG NAPD Feedback Form

Possible Scenarios 

Phase 2 of the Irish Principal and Deputy Principal Health and Wellbeing survey Now Open

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Phase 2 of the Irish Principal and Deputy Principal Health and Wellbeing research is now open.

This valuable research is being conducted in response to concerns that the increasing complexity and workload demands of school leadership roles is impacting on the health and well-being of Irish school leaders.

 

Thank you to all who completed this research last year. Those of you who completed last year will receive an invitation from the Deakin research team to reengage.

There is a password reset function, so not to worry if you have forgotten your password and a frequently asked section is included for your assistance.

 

The following are the links to the 2023 survey:

 

Participants who registered or completed the survey last year: https://survey.educatorhealth.org/login

 

Returning participants should use the login details they used last year. However, it is possible that you may have issues remembering these and if you have you can reset your password.

 

All new participants should use the following link: https://survey.educatorhealth.org/register?experiment=IEP

 

If you have any queries or issues please contact me at: irelandprincipalsurvey@gmail.com

 

Looking forward to another successful round of the survey this year

 

Many thanks,

 

Shay Bannon

Survey Facilitator

Legal Island Online Conference – Schools Legal Update 2022

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Online Conference

Schools’ Legal Update 2022
Tuesday 6 December 2022
Online Conference – 9:15am to 4pm

Legal Island, alongside the NAPD, bring together the top lawyers working in education and experts in employment law to update school leaders in Ireland on the most important developments you need to understand before 2023 – from data protection to admissions policy. This practical seminar will be particularly valuable to school Principals, Vice Principals and other school leaders.

NAPD Member Offer – 2 for 1: Book your place and bring a colleague for free!

Book your place at http://bit.ly/3hKckWI , then email Vanessa@legal-island.com with your booking confirmation and colleague’s details (name and email) and we’ll do the rest!