Written answers
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Department of Education and Skills
Education Policy
Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
1037. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she supports the concept that every school should become a school of sanctuary; and her views on the role of schools as champions of inclusion. [41229/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
My department fully supports the role of schools as champions of inclusion and actively provides support and resources to schools to help them in their inclusion journey.
NEPS’s Support and Development work involves the provision of applied psychology services for teachers and school communities to build and maximise their capacity to respond to the needs of all students and those with particular needs. The following programmes in the area of inclusion are delivered by NEPS nationally:
- Embracing Diversity includes looking at cultural and linguistic diversity, promoting inclusive practice in education, key psychological constructs such as bias, stereotyping and intersectionality, inclusive language and examples of good practice in schools.
- Welcome to our school: addresses how to support children and young people from international backgrounds, adopt key psychosocial principles (the Hobfoll principles) effective at addressing the wellbeing needs of those impacted by a traumatic event.
Schools have autonomy to implement external programmes that meet the need of their school community as identified by their School Self-evaluation process. Schools can access advisory Circulars 0042/2018 - Best practice guidance for primary schools in the use of programmes and/or external facilitators in promoting wellbeing consistent with the Department of Education Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice - www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/circulars/best-practice-guidance-for-primary-schools-in-the-use-of-programmes-andor-external-facilitators-in-promoting-wellbeing-consistent-with-the-department-of-education-and-skills-wellbeing-policy-statement-and-framework-for-practice/ - and Circular 0043/2018, for post-primary schools - www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/circulars/best-practice-guidance-for-post-primary-schools-in-the-use-of-programmes-andor-external-facilitators-in-promoting-wellbeing-consistent-with-the-department-of-education-and-skills-wellbeing-policy-statement-and-framework-for-practice/. These circulars offer best practice guidance in selecting wellbeing promotion programmes and/or external facilitators (both one-off speakers and those delivering programmes over a period of time), to support the implementation of the Wellbeing Promotion Process.
In line with guidance every school has the autonomy to follow the process to become a school of sanctuary as identified by their School Self-evaluation process.
No comments