My Department, through the teacher support services and education centres, engages teachers on a full time basis annually for the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) through secondment from their schools. These secondments are subject to annual review. The arrangements provide flexibility and ensure that the in-service needs of teachers and other support priorities of the school system can be met within the resources available. The support services have engaged in succession planning as a key strategy in ensuring continued support for teachers and school leaders in implementing national education policy priorities and CPD and which allows for continuity, quality planning and management. A limited alleviation of the application of the five year secondment limit has been agreed. It is Department policy to apply the alleviation to meet the business needs of each of the support services, for example, where seconded teachers take on leadership roles or have a specialism or expertise where retention is necessary for continuity, quality planning and management. The implementation of this policy is a matter for the services concerned and the relevant section of my Department. The detail of the overall number of secondments together with derogated posts for each support service is contained in the tables.
APPROVAL NUMBERS FOR EACH SERVICE FOR 2015/16
|
Approval
|
|
2015/16
|
Programme Development Service for Teachers
|
107
|
National Induction Programme for Teachers
|
13
|
Project Maths
|
5
|
Special Education Support Service
|
18
|
National Behaviour Support Service
|
13
|
Junior Cycle for Teachers
|
32
|
Education Centre Directors
|
21
|
Total
|
209
|
RETENTIONS FOR EACH SERVICE FOR 2015/16
Service
|
Totals
|
Programme Development Service for Teachers
|
10
|
National Induction Programme for Teachers
|
2
|
Project Maths
|
1
|
Special Education Support Service
|
4
|
National Behaviour Support Service
|
2
|
Junior Cycle for Teachers
|
1
|
Education Centre Directors
|
14
|
Total
|
34
|