Planning the Transition from School to College for Students with Special Educational Needs and/ or Disabilities (Parents/Teachers/Students) 20.10.25

ZOOM online

Planning the transition from school to college for students with special educational needs and/ or disabilities 'Disability Access Route to Education' (DARE), supports for students with disabilities in college, and what to expect from online or blended learning.

While this talk is for parents and school leavers, it may be useful for teachers / guidance counsellors and will look at:

• Understanding the DARE scheme
• Essential skills for transition to college
• Registering with college Disability Services
• Understanding how college works

Dr Alison Doyle is an independent educational psychologist with more than 35 years of experience.  She designs and delivers transition programmes, and regularly provides seminars and workshops to parents and institutions.  

Idées Pratiques pour Enseigner la Question d'Opinion au LC 20.10.2025

Online

This course will explore effective strategies for guiding students through the opinion piece in the French Leaving Certificate exam. We will look at ways to anchor phrases and key thematic content and support students through chunking techniques and the use of AI. It will also focus on how to organise and extend responses and promote self-assessment through correction strategies and reflective checklists.

• To give a critical awareness of how meaning is organised and conveyed by the structures and vocabulary of the target language.
• To help leamers develop strategies for effective language learning
• To develop their capacity to use appropriate structures and vocabulary for the purposes of written communication.

UFLI Foundations Phonics Programme (Face to face Workshop in Laois ESC) 21.10.25

Laois Education Support Centre

This face-to-face workshop will provide an overview of the UFLI Foundations Phonics programme.

UFLI is a systematic, explicit phonics programme, intended for Junior Infants to 2nd Class. It is also suitable for use in SET up to 4th class. Lessons take approximately 30 minutes, each consisting of systematic review and explicit teaching and practice of new concepts.

Free companion lesson resources are available online, including PowerPoint presentations, games and decodable texts.

Sample lessons will be demonstrated and time will be allocated for Q&A.

This face-to-face workshop is taking place in Laois Education Support Centre and is suitable for Primary Teachers (Junior Infants to 2nd) & SET.

Coaching your School Sports Team - Practical Tips for Extra-Curricular Activities in Primary & Post-Primary Schools changed to 21.10.25

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This webinar is suitable for primary and post-primary teachers and will look at the following

• Starting a club: recruitment - of players, teachers
• Seasonal clubs - making use of time, space and numbers (5 minutes)
• Protocol and promotion - registrations, sign ins/outs. Reports for social media (2 mins)
• Engagement and adapting through the age and ability groups (5 mins)
• Coaching tips/practices/drills/pedagogy (20 mins)
• Winning vs development. Selection of players to build a strong extra-curricular culture (20 mins)
• Questions and answers about their sports teams (20 mins)

Learning outcome: For school staff to learn practical tips for coaching school teams.

Facilitator:          Ciarán Fitzsimons, PE teacher at Beaufort College in Navan.  Taught PE in the UK prior to Navan.  Ciarán has coached school teams for over a decade across various sports and specialise in football. He did some football coaching work for Queens Park Rangers FC in London.

Keeping it Human: AI, Empathy & Student Voice (P/PP Teaches & SNAs) 22.10.25

Online

This webinar suitable for primary /post-primary teachers and SNAs explores how educators can use AI to enhance - rather than replace - the human connections that underpin student wellbeing. With a focus on empathy, equity, and psychological safety, we’ll examine how AI can be used to strengthen student voice, support inclusive practices, and create emotionally intelligent learning environments. The session also addresses ethical use, digital responsibility, and the role of AI in building sustainable, relationship-based wellbeing systems that align with the Wellbeing Framework. 

The session also addresses ethical use, digital responsibility, and the role of AI in building sustainable, relationship-based wellbeing systems that align with the Wellbeing Framework and Climate Action Education goals. 

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: 

• Describe how AI can be used to support empathy, student voice, and relationship-based practice within wellbeing promotion. 
• Reflect on the ethical and psychological considerations of using AI in schools, including inclusion, bias, and digital wellbeing. 
• Identify strategies for using AI to create emotionally safe and student-centred wellbeing experiences. 
• Explore how AI can contribute to sustainable, values-led wellbeing systems that align with the Wellbeing Framework and Climate Action Education goals. 

Facilitator: Nicola’s Culloty's career journey started as a primary school teacher where she devoted over two decades to nurturing young minds in the classroom.  Driven by a passion for mental health and well-being, Nicola returned to the academic world and earned her Master's degree in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in 2019. She has since completed a Diploma in Traumatology and PTSD and a further Diploma in Coaching.  

In 2020, she founded Full Circle CBT, an organisation offering online therapeutic support to individuals of all ages.  Nicola's expertise extends beyond therapy; she actively conducts training workshops for school communities and organisations, equipping them with essential tools to foster mental wellness in their communities. 

Nicola has provided training and workshops to many schools, organisations and government agencies over the past number of years. She has worked closely with NALA, Mary Immaculate College of Education, TUSLA, the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, European School Varese, ESCI and many more. Driven by a passion for mental health and well-being, Nicola returned to the academic world and earned her Master's degree in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in 2019. She has since completed a Diploma in Traumatology and PTSD and a further Diploma in Coaching.  

Applying for Assistant Principal Posts in Primary & Post-Primary School 23.10.25

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This two-hour session is offered to those preparing to apply for Assistant Principal roles in primary and post-primary schools. It addresses the context and process of applying, offers advice on completing the application form and helps candidates prepare for a competency based interview that is anchored in the 4 domains of Leadership and Management from the Looking at our Schools document.

Learning Outcomes:

• It provides the context an principals on which posts are organised in schools
• How to complete a competency based application form with particular focus on the 4 domains of leadership
• Helps candidates prepare for a competency based interview.

Facilitator: Harry Freeman, Educational Consultant