Written answers

Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Youthreach Programme

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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468. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which inspectors from her Department can inspect the teaching practices in YouthReach centres in a classroom of resource staff and grade them against the criteria of teachers in view of the fact that they are not recognised within the role. [24177/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Evaluations of Centres for Education are carried out in Youthreach and other centres that are not recognised schools. During these inspections, specially trained inspectors evaluate the quality of centre management and leadership, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, and the centre's own planning and self-review. They provide oral feedback to the staff and board of management (where applicable) at the end of these inspections and then provide a written report which is published on the Department’s website.

Department inspectors have been conducting Youthreach evaluations since 2005 and are very experienced in evaluating the work carried out in the centres. A range of inspection models is used in Youthreach Centres including: Whole-Centre Evaluations, Incidental Inspections and Follow-Through Inspections. These models have been designed and approved by the Minister for Education following consultation with stakeholders, including stakeholders involved in the provision of education in Youthreach centres. Inspectors are provided with specialised training on these inspection models prior to conducting Centre Evaluations. Inspectors also gain experience and expertise through working on teams before taking a lead role in inspection work.

Inspectors have a full understanding of the roles, level of experience and qualifications of Youthreach staff, including the role of the resource staff, and bring this understanding to bear when making professional judgements on the quality of provision. They do not differentiate between the work of teachers and resource persons in delivering QQI or Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) modules. Inspectors’ evaluative judgements are informed by the quality framework: Looking at Our School 2016 which is applicable to a range of contexts. Inspectors are trained to adapt the quality framework to take account of the unique context of Youthreach Centres when making judgements about the quality of provision.

The ESRI conducted an evaluation of the national Youthreach programme, the report can be accessed here: www.esri.ie/system/files/publications/RS82_1.pdf. Work on reviewing the model of Youthreach inspection, as was recommended in the ESRI’s report, is currently underway and will invole consultation with stakeholders involved in Youthreach provision.

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