It is important to point out to the Deputy that the Chief Inspector's Report 2010-2012 states that inspectors found that school planning processes were satisfactory or better in 74% of the primary schools inspected as part of whole school evaluations and that teachers had made satisfactory preparations for the lessons in 82% of lessons evaluating in unannounced inspections. At second level, inspectors judged that teachers' preparation for teaching was satisfactory or better in the vast majority of lessons: an efficient lesson sequence was evident in 90% of lesson and teachers selected appropriate resources to support teaching and learning in 85% of lessons.
My Department has made a significant investment over the last decade in supporting schools to engage in school development planning and school self-review. The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) continues to provide high quality continuous professional development and support for teachers, at primary and post-primary levels. The National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT) provides newly qualified primary and post-primary teachers with comprehensive advice and planning guidelines that are of significant support to teachers in both mainstream and special education settings. Department Good Practice Guides, such as Effective literacy and numeracy practices in DEIS schools (2009), highlight the centrality of effective, strategic, collaborative planning.
The Programme for Government, 2011, sets out specific targets in relation to self-evaluation and school improvement. Similarly, the National Strategy to improve Literacy and Numeracy, Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life, requires all schools to engage in robust self-evaluation. School Self-Evaluation Guidelines were prepared by the Inspectorate, with the assistance of schools and the education partners, to provide practical support, to assist schools in affirming good practice and to have a clear focus on the specific areas that need to be targeted for improvement or development.
A dedicated SSE website (http://schoolself-evaluation.ie) contains resources, evaluation tools, video materials from schools that have engaged in SSE and completed examples of school self-evaluation reports and school improvement plans. By June 2014 schools are required to have their first SSE report completed and a school improvement plan (SIP) in place. To support schools as they engage in the data gathering analysis and improvement planning process within SSE, during 2012 and 2013 Department inspectors have visited and provided advice to 3710 schools or approximately 94% of all primary and post-primary schools. Such advice included advice about all aspects of teaching and learning, including planning and preparation is a normal part of all evaluation activities by the Inspectorate.
