New measures to tackle educational disadvantage in schools

Further focus on the teaching of literacy and closer links between schools and communities will feature in new Government efforts to tackle educational disadvantage.

A review of the school support programme through the Deis (Delivering Quality of Opportunity in Schools) initiative is nearing completion. It is expected to result in changes to how schools get supports to help students struggling at home or in class.

Education Minister Richard Bruton will visit a Dublin primary school which gets some of the highest levels of assistance this morning when he meets staff and pupils at St Joseph’s in Coolock. However, the review may see major changes to those supports from September of next year, including the way it and over 800 others are selected and funded through the Deis School Support Programme.

For those like St Joseph’s, in Deis Band 1 for urban primary schools, the biggest aid is through increased staff that allow smaller class sizes to be provided.

However, the Department of Education says new targeted measures are likely to be included in a new action plan for disadvantaged schools which Mr Bruton will publish before the end of this year. The updated Deis scheme is expected, for example, to focus on supporting school leaders and offer supports to help disadvantaged schools keep what the department said are exceptionally strong principals.

“Even small improvements in supports for and retention and performance of school leaders in these schools can have a dramatic impact on outcomes,” said a spokesperson.

There should also be a renewed focus on teaching methods, with evidence that changing how literacy is taught to children who struggle can lead to major improvements. Already, the national literacy and numeracy strategy has seen extra time devoted to these areas at primary and second levels, and more focus on their integration into all curricular subjects.

Mr Bruton said he plans to make disadvantage a major theme of his ministry and to focus above all on improving outcomes for children who need most help.

“By getting our system of supports for schools in disadvantaged areas right, we can have huge impact on the life prospects of children — increasing their chances of learning well in school, of going on to higher education, of entering and remaining in the workforce, and of avoiding the many problems that too often impact on families in these areas,” he said.

The action plan will also seek exploration of ways that school facilities can be used to provide other state supports within the community. The Programme for Government includes plans to have schools available for childcare services outside school hours, with community groups and private providers being invited to tender for access to those facilities.

Officials in the Department of Education and the department of Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone began discussions this month on how to implement this commitment. They are set to bring proposals to both ministers on the subject.

However, the need for related capital investment has been flagged by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation. The union last month queried a further intimation in the Programme for Government that schools would have to be made available for childcare providers in order to receive the full benefit of promised restoration of Department of Education funding for running costs.