Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 May 2006
227 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the up-to-date training which is available for teachers who wish to return to the classroom after absence due to secondment or career break; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19045/06]
View answerThe Primary Curriculum Support Programme (PCSP) provides on-going in-service and support to teachers in schools covering the revised Primary Curriculum which was introduced in 1999. The in-service provided annually is also available to teachers on secondment. The PCSP, through its Cuiditheoireacht service, provides support to individual teachers, including those returning from absence. The service also customises the content and format of support it provides to teachers and school staff in line with individual needs and requirements including those of teachers returning to school after leave of absence. The service also provides support via phone and email. Details of the call-save line are available on the PCSP website.
The PCSP website contains all presentations, support materials and high quality resources which have been designed by Trainers and Cuiditheoirí to support teachers in developing an understanding of the curriculum. Furthermore, all seminars scheduled in the past two years have been filmed and will be available in the coming school year in DVD format (available from the PCSP office) and in streaming video (accessible on the PCSP website).
Primary teachers may also access training by contacting their local Education Centre which responds to the needs of teachers and schools in their catchment area. Regional teams of Cuiditheoirí work closely with the Education Centre Network to provide courses which address locally identified needs. "Drop-in Clinics" have been established throughout the Education Centre Network and this enables teachers to access any specific curriculum support they require.
In addition, my Department funds a comprehensive summer course training programme to support the professional development of Primary teachers. These courses encompass the range of subject areas of the Primary School Curriculum and also include other important areas such as classroom management and discipline in schools. In addition, this programme includes on-line training for teachers working in the special educational needs area.
The Second Level Support Service (SLSS) provides professional development support for second level teachers on an ongoing basis during the school year. A brochure detailing the schedule of in-service is provided twice yearly to schools and is available on the SLSS website. Teachers absent from school may also avail of this in-service training.
The SLSS also provides annual induction training for those teachers entering the teaching profession for the first time, serving teachers engaging in curricular areas for the first time and teachers returning to the profession from leave of absence. The training is delivered early in the school year. A schedule of this training for the coming school year will be available on the SLSS website before the commencement of the next school year.
The SLSS website also contains up-to-date information with related materials and available supports for teachers and schools with appropriate contact telephone numbers. The Co-ordinators and the Regional Development Officers of the various support programmes also provide individual support to teachers, including those returning from absences. In addition, the SLSS provides a telephone helpline for teachers and schools — contact details are available on the SLSS website.
Second level teachers may also access training by contacting their local Education Centre which works closely with the Subject Associations, National Support Services, Third Level Institutions and other appropriate providers.
I consider that the options offered through the various systems of supports provide teachers, including those returning to teaching after leave of absence, with ample opportunity to reacquaint them with the curriculum and to continue to develop their skills which they can then apply in the classroom.
