Jonathan O'Brien
Ceist:80. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of minutes per day DEIS schools and non-DEIS schools are teaching literacy. [11350/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 6 March 2014
Ceisteanna (80)
Freagraí scríofa
With effect from January 2012 and in line with the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, all primary schools are required to spend 6.5 hours for infants with a shorter day, and 8.5 hours per week for students with a full day on the development of literacy skills, particularly in the first language of the school.
At post-primary level circular 25/12 emphasises that literacy and numeracy are cross-curricular skills which can be supported across the curriculum. It also provides that students should have access to an English lesson every day and that in addition, students in Irish-medium schools should have access to an Irish lesson every day.
There is a particular emphasis on literacy in DEIS schools and the DEIS School Support Programme includes access to literacy support services and to literacy programmes and to Home School Community Liaison services including literacy initiatives involving paired reading and Reading for Fun. The School Completion Programme also supports additional literacy interventions in an after-school space. The emphasis in the DEIS programme is on school planning so that teaching and other resources are delivered to meet identified educational needs within the school. As in all schools, the quality of the learning supports provided in DEIS schools is as important, if not more so, than the time spent on individual elements of the curriculum.