Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
343. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 558 of 10 March 2021, the number of schools taking part in the pilot workshops on well-being and trauma informed schooling; if the schools have been identified for the pilot; if therapists or counsellors will be made available to schools as part of this pilot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25506/21]
View answerThe National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) service of my Department has developed a range of workshops on the promotion of wellbeing and resilience in schools which includes trauma informed approaches. The approaches outlined in the workshops are based on research findings, on the experience of experts in their fields and on the experience of practising psychologists working in schools. The focus of the workshops is on exploring and understanding the sources and impact of stress on children and young people including attachment, trauma and adverse experiences. The emphasis is on creating environments to reduce stress and on developing skills all children and young people need to better manage in school. The training will also cover the influences of stress on school staff and how to best to manage this. It is intended that staff will find the content useful in supporting their own wellbeing.
The workshops will be available to build the capability of school staff in both primary and post-primary settings. The workshops are for all staff and all students including those with SEN or those children impacted by trauma and adverse experiences. The workshop webinar will cover psychological theory and best practice approaches with opportunities for reflective activities and will be delivered by psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service of my Department.
Work is underway to identify schools for inclusion in a pilot of the workshops. In selecting schools, a mix of DEIS, non DEIS and urban and rural schools will be included.
Following the pilot a national roll-out is planned during the next academic year.
