Schools with large infant intakes may get extra staff

Schools with large infant intakes may be allowed extra staff to avoid putting them into larger classes later this year.

The move by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn comes in recognition of difficulties, particularly in areas of increasing population, with the system by which teachers are allocated each September based on the previous school year’s pupil numbers. This has led to schools being unable to allocate smaller class sizes to junior and senior infants, where teaching in smaller groups is recommended most as it allows an early focus on individual learning.

While growing schools will not get automatic entitlement to additional staff to facilitate smaller classes, Mr Quinn said he is adding a new rule on staffing appeals that schools can make against their teacher allocations each year.