Teachers at primary and post primary level have access to a range of continuing professional development programmes and support (CPD) through the teacher support services funded by my Department. This support encompasses human and cultural diversity.
The overall remit of the Health and Wellbeing team within the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) is to support management, teachers and schools in the development and promotion of students’ mental, emotional, social, sexual, personal and physical health and wellbeing in the context of a positive health-promoting school environment. This is enabled through the provision of a suite of CPD programmes and supports which are notified to schools annually.
Full details of participation levels in this programme of support during 2018/2019 are provided in the table.
Support provided by the Junior Cycle for Teachers service (JCT)
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) have developed a short course in SPHE in the context of the new Framework for Junior Cycle (2015). Schools can implement this short course in the context of the development of their junior cycle programme. It is expected that more and more schools will introduce this short course as the new Framework embeds in schools. The short course (100 hours duration) adopts a learning outcomes approach which encompass the issues of human and cultural diversity.
Last year 206 teachers attended CPD workshops provided by JCT in relation to this new short course, while 205 teachers engaged in a dedicated online webinar provided by JCT on the short course. Currently, there are over 678 teachers registered with JCT to attend CPD on the new SPHE short course in 2019/2020 which represents a significant increase on 2018/2019 figures, indicating an increasing interest from schools in introducing the new short course.
All CPD programmes and supports provided by Department funded support services include provision for teaching and learning in the inclusive classroom through differentiated teaching methodologies. These programmes enable teachers to deal with the teaching and learning needs of all students from all cultural backgrounds and provide support for pedagogical practices that promote inclusion.
Primary Health and Wellbeing (Sept 2018 – June 2019)
Focus of CPD
|
Term
|
No. of teacher CPD interactions
|
No of Events
|
Primary Child Protection seminars
|
Term 1 & 2
|
1646
|
108 events
|
Physical Literacy Fundamental Movement Skills Day 2 seminars
|
Term 1
|
726
|
49 events
|
Teaching Gymnastics Skills in PE workshops
|
Term 1
|
207
|
17 events
|
Primary RSE seminars
|
Term 1 & 3
|
1173
|
56 events
|
Stay Safe workshops
|
Term 1
|
214
|
21 events
|
Teacher Wellbeing
|
Term 2
|
36
|
3 events
|
Primary PE Workshops- Folk Dance
|
Term 2
|
178
|
14 events
|
Primary PE Workshops-Gymnastics
|
Term 2
|
38
|
3 events
|
Primary SPHE & Visual Arts Seminars
|
Term 2
|
159
|
19 events
|
Internet Safety, Cyberbullying & Bullying Seminar
|
Term 2
|
404
|
20 Events
|
Physical Literacy (FMS) seminar 3
|
Term 2
|
1060
|
55 events
|
Primary PE Workshop- An Introduction to Physical Literacy
|
Term 3
|
148
|
16 events
|
Primary Internet Safety, Cyberbullying & Bullying Seminars
|
Term 3
|
141
|
8 events
|
Physical Literacy (FMS) Seminar 3
|
Term 3
|
248
|
15 events
|
Post-Primary Health and Well-Being(Sept 2018 – June 2019)
Focus of CPD
|
Term
|
No. of teacher CPD interactions
|
No of Events
|
Introduction to SPHE ( 2 day seminar)
|
Term 1 & 2
|
1117
|
64 events
|
Mental Health SPHE 1
|
Term 1 & 2
|
143
|
9 events
|
Mental Health SPHE 2
|
Term 2
|
72
|
7 events
|
Junior Cycle RSE ( 2 day seminar)
|
Term 1, 2 & 3
|
906
|
48 events
|
Child Protection Designated Liaison Person & Deputy Designated Liaison Person
|
Term 1, 2 & 3
|
157
|
12 events
|
Anti bullying :Cyber bullying and internet safety
|
Term 2
|
55
|
6 events
|
Gender & Sexual Orientation
|
Term 2
|
16
|
2 Events
|
Snr Cycle RSE ( 2 day Seminar)
|
Term 1 & 2
|
790
|
38 events
|
JNR Cycle Personal Safety
|
Term 3
|
23
|
2 events
|
Post Primary PE Olympic Handball Workshop
|
Term 1
|
209
|
15 events
|
LCPE PLC Meetings
|
Term 1
|
62
|
8 events
|
SCPE PLC Meetings
|
Term 1
|
40
|
7 events
|
LCPE Seminars
|
Term 1
|
190
|
3 events
|
SCPE Seminars
|
Term 1
|
40
|
1 event
|
LCPE PLC Meetings
|
Term 2
|
67
|
10 events
|
SCPE PLC Meetings
|
Term 2
|
35
|
7 events
|
LCPE Seminar Day 6+7
|
Term 2
|
128
|
4 events
|
SCPE Seminar Day 4
|
Term 2
|
37
|
2 events
|
Using Digital Technologies in PE Workshops
|
Term 2
|
190
|
16 events
|
PE Workshop The TPSR Model-2hr Workshop
|
Term 3
|
19
|
3 events
|
LCPE Day 8
|
Term 3
|
59
|
2 events
|
LCPE PLC Meeting’s
|
Term 3
|
13
|
2 events
|
The total number of health and wellbeing school support visits at primary level was 490 with 5384 teacher CPD interactions.
The total health and wellbeing school support visits at post primary level were 137 school visits, meeting 2221 teachers.