Talk Boost Introduction and Training 1.10.25

Laois Education Support Centre

This face-to-face Talk Boost Introduction and Training course is designed to benefit both mainstream and Special Education Teachers (SET) responsible for delivering Talk Boost. Moreover, it is well-suited for School Co-Ordinators, Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinators (SENCos), Principals and other school staff members who may play a role in this initiative.  Following this training, participants can apply to borrow the  TALK Boost kit from Laois Education Support Centre.

Talk Boost KS1 is a targeted intervention designed to improve the language and communication skills of four - seven year olds. It comprises three 30-40 minute group sessions a week, delivered over a 10-week period by a trained mainstream or SET teacher. It is designed to be run in groups. The intervention is a ‘catch up’ programme designed for children whose current language skills are below the average for their age, or children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) who need a boost to enable them to narrow the gap with their peers, and function within the average range. This training is designed for mainstream and SET teachers who will be delivering Talk Boost, along with School Co-Ordinators, Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinators (SENCos), Principals and other school staff members who may be involved. Further information about Talk Boost is available here.

Facilitator: Blathnaid Fitzsimons  primary teacher and Talk Boost trained local facilitator

First Aid Fundamentals for Schools 1.10.25

ZOOM online

This two-hour First Aid Fundamentals for Schools webinar will cover the following:

• What is First Aid (Regulations, Obligations)
• How to call emergency services.
• Maintaining safe systems of work.
• Brief introduction to circulation wounds and bleeding
• Management of nose bleeds etc.
• Application of dressings to wounds.
• Management of heart attack.
• Introduction to CPR.
• Management of choking casualty – Heimlich manoeuvre.
• Management of unconscious casualty – recovery position.
• Recognition & First Response to Sprains/Fractures • Brief overview of Anaphylaxis (Epi-Pen) & Asthma Awareness

Participants will receive course materials and Certificates of Completion.  

Fee: €10 non-refundable fee

Supporting Post Primary School Students with Muscular Dystrophy and Related Neuromuscular Conditions: 1.10.2025

Online

Supporting students with ASD through Universal Design for Learning in the Mainstream Classroom (Part 2) 1.10.25

Online

Understanding Self-Harm Training (Face-to-Face in Tullamore) 2.10.25

Tullamore

This course is face-to-face and most suitable for Teachers/Guidance Counsellors.

This 1 day workshop provides opportunities for improved knowledge, awareness and understanding of self-harming behaviour. Participants consider how personal attitudes and experiences might affect their helping role with a person who self-harms.  The programme aims to clarify what self-harm is, what leads people to engage in self-harming behaviour and considers its relationship with suicide. The causes, motivations and functions of self harm are discussed.  Positive approaches to engaging with, caring for and supporting someone who engaged in self-harm behaviour are presented. Active participation is encouraged.           

The programme involves an interactive style, including PowerPoint presentation, DVD clips, case study examples and small group discussions.

DVD clips containing contributions from service providers and individuals with lived life experience of self-harm supplement the programme.

Please note, there is no substitute cover available for this workshop.

By completing Understanding Self-Harm training Participants will:

• Be informed of definitions of self-harm and consider its relationship with suicide

• Understand the prevalence of self-harm across different age groups and genders

• Be familiar with the functions, motivations and meanings underlying self-harm

• Demonstrate improved sensitivity and awareness of the needs of people who self-harm

• Be aware of possible interventions and helpful responses in responding to people who self-harm

• Gain knowledge of the appropriate and relevant supports and services, locally and nationally.

•  
  Facilitator:  HSE Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention

   

  Certificate of attendance will be available directly from HSE, Laois Education Support Centre will not be providing same.

Programme of Support/Clár Tacaíochta for Teaching Principals Option 2: 2.10.2025

Laois Education Support Centre

Programme of Support/Clár Tacaíochta for Teaching Principals for schools in our catchment area for the school year 2025/2026.  We are very aware of the many challenges and demands that principals face, due to societal changes and the constantly evolving nature of the role. With this in mind, we are inviting you to join us for this programme. It will be a participant-led programme that will be responsive to the individual needs of those who attend. It is envisaged that each group will be limited in number in order to create a safe and comfortable space for all who attend. Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

We will be offering specific sessions for Teaching Principals and Administrative Principals, as was the case last year.

Paudie O’Neill, a skilled facilitator with a strong background as a Primary Principal and many years’ experience as a facilitator will work with us again this year, offering two get-togethers (9.30am-2.30pm) for principals over the course of this school year commencing September 2025.  Feedback from previous years has been very good and we are delighted that Paudie has agreed to work with us again this year.

Each meeting will take place in Laois Education Support Centre. Lunch and refreshments will be provided on the day.

Hopefully some principals will be able to use their admin days for this.  We are not able to facilitate enough sessions to ensure that everyone can attend on their designated release day, but perhaps you might be able to work around that.

The Programme of Support/Clár Tacaíochta will be a participant-led programme that will be responsive to the individual needs of those who attend. Each group will be limited in number in order to create a safe and comfortable space for all who attend. Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

Introduction to Autism – for teachers, SNAs and parents new to Autism 2.10.25

Online

This webinar offers a neuro-affirmative introduction to Autism for staff who are beginning to work with autistic students and parents whose children have more recently been identified as autistic. It is also suited to parents who wish to learn about their child's autism diagnosis and how they might support their child at home and at school. 

A resource pack of slides, handouts and links will be available to participants through the education centre following the course    

Participants will: 

• Be introduced  to autism, language, terminology and the neuro- affirmative lens 
• Learn to understand and respect the autism perspective 
• identify common  characteristics of autism with a particular focus on advocating for and supporting the child's strengths.
• Explore what leads to overload or challenges for your child and how to support them, as well as  those caring for and working with them, to recognise what can be done to support regulation and wellbeing for your child.
• Understand the school support systems and how to access additional supports when necessary 
• Explore practical ideas and suggestions to support the autistic  child at school and at home 

Parent registration link only: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/I8pG2c7WRfyjTZSH_ldVqA

(no certificate of attendance available for parents)

Facilitator:       Marie Byrne is an educator with over 35 years of experience in the field of education and additional needs. She has wealth of professional and personal experience of loving and living and working with people with Autism and brings a neuro- psychotherapeutic perspective to her work in the area.

Marie is an experienced teacher trainer & advisor and a child and adolescent psychotherapist specialising in play-therapy. She has worked as a special education and Autism advisor to schools and other organisations for many years.

Having worked as an Autism advisor with the Special Education Support Service ( SESS) and NCSE for a number of years she returned to her role as an autism support class and early intervention class teacher in CBS Primary school in Wexford where she also holds the position of Inclusion Co-ordinator

Developing Writing across the Primary School through the Conduit of Whole-Class Reading 2.10.25

Online

This webinar for primary teachers will take participants on a journey of how to use fiction and non-fiction texts to build reading fluency and through modelling demonstrate how the child can become an apprentice writer through their engagement with these texts. 

This webinar is based on a research project conducted in Irish Primary Schools and will be accompanied by resources to support the suggested approach.  

Learning Outcomes 

• Participants will explore the key features of fiction and non-fiction genres. 

• Participants will engage with a modelled approach to teaching writing effectively across the Primary School.

Catherine Gilliland is an experienced Literacy specialist with numerous publications. Her work has taken her across Europe and was a speaker at The World Literacy Summit in 2020. Her talent for storytelling makes her webinars engaging and very popular with teachers