Written answers

Friday, 6 September 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Teacher Training Provision

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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287. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the participation level in in-service training for the human and cultural diversity aspect of the social personal and health education curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35184/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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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 CPDTermNo. of teacher CPD interactionsNo of Events
Primary Child Protection seminarsTerm 1 & 21646108 events
Physical Literacy Fundamental Movement Skills Day 2 seminarsTerm 172649 events
Teaching Gymnastics Skills in PE workshopsTerm 120717 events
Primary RSE seminarsTerm 1 & 3117356 events
Stay Safe workshopsTerm 121421 events
Teacher WellbeingTerm 2363 events
Primary PE Workshops- Folk DanceTerm 217814 events
Primary PE Workshops-GymnasticsTerm 2383 events
Primary SPHE & Visual Arts SeminarsTerm 215919 events
Internet Safety, Cyberbullying & Bullying SeminarTerm 240420 Events
Physical Literacy (FMS) seminar 3Term 2106055 events
Primary PE Workshop- An Introduction to Physical LiteracyTerm 314816 events
Primary Internet Safety, Cyberbullying & Bullying SeminarsTerm 31418 events
Physical Literacy (FMS) Seminar 3Term 324815 events

Post-Primary Health and Well-Being(Sept 2018 – June 2019)

Focus of CPDTermNo. of teacher CPD interactionsNo of Events
Introduction to SPHE ( 2 day seminar)Term 1 & 2111764 events
Mental Health SPHE 1Term 1 & 21439 events
Mental Health SPHE 2Term 2727 events
Junior Cycle RSE ( 2 day seminar)Term 1, 2 & 390648 events
Child Protection Designated Liaison Person & Deputy Designated Liaison PersonTerm 1, 2 & 315712 events
Anti bullying :Cyber bullying and internet safetyTerm 2556 events
Gender & Sexual Orientation Term 2162 Events
Snr Cycle RSE ( 2 day Seminar)Term 1 & 279038 events
JNR Cycle Personal SafetyTerm 3232 events
Post Primary PE Olympic Handball WorkshopTerm 120915 events
LCPE PLC MeetingsTerm 1628 events
SCPE PLC MeetingsTerm 1407 events
LCPE SeminarsTerm 11903 events
SCPE SeminarsTerm 1401 event
LCPE PLC MeetingsTerm 26710 events
SCPE PLC MeetingsTerm 2357 events
LCPE Seminar Day 6+7Term 21284 events
SCPE Seminar Day 4Term 2372 events
Using Digital Technologies in PE WorkshopsTerm 219016 events
PE Workshop The TPSR Model-2hr WorkshopTerm 3193 events
LCPE Day 8Term 3592 events
LCPE PLC Meeting’sTerm 3132 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.

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