DEIS+ Scheme needed to close gaps in primary education

Smaller class sizes, nurture spaces, play and music therapy among proposals to support the most disadvantaged children.

Gathered in Derry today, members of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) endorsed calls for the introduction of an enhanced Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools scheme (DEIS+) for the most disadvantaged primary schools.

Such a scheme would offer greater support to our most vulnerable pupils and could see additional resources in the form of smaller class sizes, the development of nurture spaces and multi-disciplinary teams alongside the provision of play and music therapy onsite.

Teachers speaking at the conference noted the importance of the current DEIS scheme in closing the gap between educational outcomes for pupils living in disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged areas.

Delegates also instructed the union’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) to push the Department of Education for an increase in funding for the School Completion Programme, the provision of clinical supervision supports for teachers working as Home School Community Liaisons, and for other teachers working with vulnerable pupils in DEIS schools.

Additionally, members called for the introduction of fully resourced and staffed nurture rooms for the most disadvantaged schools, for the provision of additional teaching posts to ensure every principal in a DEIS Band 1 school is an administrative principal and for the introduction of one leadership and management release day a week for teaching deputy principals in DEIS Band 1 schools.

The INTO recognises the unique challenges faced by school staff working in DEIS primary schools. The union will continue to engage with the social inclusion unit at the Department of Education to ensure that extra targeted supports are made available to schools in the most acutely disadvantaged communities.