Mr. P?iric Clerkin:

To answer the question as to whether there is more we can do and whether we need more support, from the school leaders point of view, that is absolutely the case. School leaders need whatever support can be given because our job is all about relationships and building those within our school community. We are there to support our school community and our families and to support children. The last thing any of us want to do is to see a situation arise whereby a child is not getting the support they need, whether it be during the school year or during the July provision period. Put quite simply, we have research coming out to show this. Too much is being asked of our school leaders and there is not enough support for them. As a result, all of the research will show it is damaging the well-being and health of those school leaders. What is very frustrating is that most of the time is being spent on non-teaching and non-learning tasks. Too much time is spent by school leaders on these tasks and we need to find a better way forward to help them to focus on the leading of teaching and learning. What we are talking about today in regard to July provision is exactly that. Every school needs access to greater supports as well as the required supports for the administration side of all of these tasks. Every single one of them is a project in itself.

There are opportunities and the Deputy mentioned CPD. We have promoted the opportunity to build leadership capacity even in respect of July provision and we have encouraged schools to look at it as an opportunity to give those who are interested in leadership an opportunity to lead that during the July provision period.