Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 April 2022
130. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the details of the resources that her Department is making available for schools that will be expected to accommodate children fleeing Ukraine over next few months, particularly small rural schools; if she will address concerns that many principals feel frustrated with respect to a lack of consultation and planning on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18733/22]
View answerMy Department has recently announced the establishment of Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) to support the needs of Ukrainian children arriving in Ireland.
These Education and Language Teams will be hosted by the 16 regional Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and will be staffed by existing regionally-based education support personnel working closely together to ensure good coordination and alignment of supports for Ukrainian children. My Department will be liaising with the teams to ensure all necessary supports for the Ukrainian children are provided as quickly as possible.
The primary role of the REALT will be to assist children in finding school places and to support schools to meet the needs of these children as they emerge, to advise and support the Department in developing new capacity where required, and to co-ordinate the provision of education services to children and families across their defined area. These teams will ensure that clear, accessible information flows are in place between schools, local education support services and national support structures in relation to Ukrainian arrivals.
The regional teams will be hosted and administratively supported within the ETBs and will lead a network of other key agencies, including Tusla Education Support Service (TESS), NEPS regional personnel, NCSE regional personnel and Management body local nominees working together with local schools. All of the key agencies working together in a holistic manner will bring added value and efficiencies to the process of supporting the Ukrainian children.
Language plays a vital role in helping children/students to clarify and interpret experiences, explore ideas and emotions, and deepen their understanding of the world around them. Recognising the significance of language in shaping individual experiences, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has published a range of materials to support learners with English as an additional language (EAL) across the early childhood, primary and post-primary sectors. These materials aim to support teachers and early childhood practitioners to nurture the language development of EAL learners.
A guide to some of these materials can be found on NCCA's websites: NCCA.ie, curriculumonline.ie and Aistear Síolta Practice Guide. It is planned that further material will be added to supplement what is already available.
A central repository of information and CPD resources for school leaders and teachers to support cultural and linguistic diversity is being developed on the Scoilnet.ie website that schools are familiar with. These supports to include those designed by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) to help children suffering from trauma and EAL, intercultural and relevant curriculum supports developed by the teacher education supports services including PDST, the NCCA and the ETB sector.
