DEIS Planning in Second-Level Schools
The DEIS national action plan for educational inclusion places an increased emphasis on planning at school and cluster level, target-setting, and measurement of progress and outcomes to ensure that investment under the DEIS initiative brings about an improvement in educational outcomes for young people.
The Department of Education and Science recognises that the vast majority of schools already have school planning processes in place. Looking at Our School - An aid to self-evaluation in post-primary schools (Department of Education and Science, 2003) supports schools in the process of internal review, self-evaluation and planning. It is in the context of the work of school planning generally that schools in the DEIS programme should adopt more focused target-setting and on-going review processes.
Section 5 of the DEIS national action plan provides for the development of a tailored planning template for schools in the DEIS programme, to assist them in preparing the three-year DEIS plans that are required of them.
In accordance with this provision, SDPI has prepared the following materials to support the process of DEIS planning at second level:
- Review instruments, to assist schools in collating and analysing their baseline data—that is, data on their current situation in each of the key DEIS areas which can guide the selection of targets and improvement measures
- DEIS Plan framework comprising action plan templates, to assist schools in recording the targets they set for improvements in each area, the actions or measures they propose to implement to achieve the targets, and the arrangements they intend to follow for monitoring and evaluation
- Explanatory memo, to provide information for schools on the process of DEIS planning and on the use of the instruments and templates prepared by SDPI to support that process
These materials are now available for download:
| Title | Download |
|
1. |
Review Instruments | |
2. |
DEIS Plan Framework | |
3. |
Explanatory Memo | |
| 3a. | Appendix to Explanatory Memo: Targets and Target-Setting |
For further infomation and advice in relation to DEIS planning and the use of these materials, please contact your SDPI Regional Coordinator.
The aim of the Department of Education and Science is that each school would have its first three-year DEIS plan in place by mid-2009.
Progress Checklist
SDPI has prepared the following checklist to assist schools in monitoring their progress in DEIS planning:
| Title | Download |
| Progress Checklist for DEIS Planning |
Additional Resources
| Title | Author | Download |
| Resources for Developing a School-Wide Approach to Literacy (Colour Version) |
JCSP Team | |
| Resources for Developing a School-Wide Approach to Literacy (Black and White - Printer Friendly Version) |
JCSP Team | |
| Resources for Developing an Integrated Numeracy Plan | JCSP Team | |
| HSCL—Review Instruments for DEIS Schools | HSCL National Team | |
| The HSCL Scheme in Ireland—From Vision to Best Practice | HSCL National Team | |
| SCP—Guidelines towards Best Practice | SCP Support Unit | |
| SCP—Guidelines on Identifying Students at Risk of Early School Leaving | SCP Support Unit | |
| SCP—Student Referral Procedures and Support Programme Guidelines | SCP Support Unit |
Details of the Junior Certificate School Programme and the extensive range of supports and materials provided by the JCSP Team are available on the JCSP website— www.jcsp.ie . For materials to support literacy and numeracy strategies, see also www.jcspliteracy.ie .
Details of the Home School Community Liaison Scheme and guidelines on good practice are available on the Department of Education and Science website— www.education.ie –in the Social Inclusion area of the site.
Details of the School Completion Programme, together with a range of guidelines on the identification and support of students at risk of early school leaving and on the administration of the SCP programme, are available on the Department of Education and Science website— www.education.ie –in the Social Inclusion area of the site.
