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Category: Stranmillis News

Stranmillis-led Review of Republic of Ireland’s Early Childhood Education and Care programme published

Posted on by Andrew McAteer

A major independent review of the Republic of Ireland’s Early Childhood Education and Care (ECCE) programme, led by Stranmillis University College’s Head of Early Years, Dr Glenda Walsh, was published this week by the Irish government’s Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). 

The ECCE programme is a free, universal two-year preschool programme available to all children within an eligible age range from 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months, funded by the Department.

In 2023, a team of researchers from Stranmillis University College, working with Dr Thérèse Farrell from Dublin City University, was funded to undertake a comprehensive, independent review of the initiative, with the aim of identifying what has been working well, the challenges that still exist, and what enhancements might be made going forward.  

While recommending some enhancements that might be made, the researchers nevertheless found that the ECCE programme was viewed very favourably by providers, parents, and children, and is now widely regarded as a model of good practice from which other countries can learn. 

Welcoming the latest figures and finding from the Review, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman said: 

“These figures I have released today and the findings from the review by Stranmillis University College show the success story the ECCE programme has become. 

“With more than 1 million enrolments since the programme was first introduced and uptake rates in excess of 96%, it is clear this programme has been embraced wholeheartedly by children and their families and by wider society. 

“Moreover, with 40% of families reporting that they would not have been able to enrol their child in pre-school had it not been for the ECCE programme, it is clear that this programme has altered early learning experiences and development opportunities for all children and children experiencing disadvantage in particular.” 

Minister O’Gorman’s full statement and links to the Executive and Final Reports can be read here.

Stran at SCoTENS 2024: research launched at all-Ireland teacher education conference

Posted on by Andrew McAteer

The 22nd Annual SCoTENS conference took place last Thursday and Friday at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, with Stranmillis well represented at this year’s event.

SCoTENS – short for the Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South – was established in 2003 following the Good Friday Agreement to promote cross-border collaboration in teacher education on the island of Ireland. As part of this work, SCoTENs organises an annual conference, a student-teacher exchange programme, and provides seed funding for research projects.

Among the major reports launched at the event was the Cultural Responsivity in Teacher Education: Research in Action report – known as the CRiTERiA project – co-led by SUC’s Director of Teaching and Learning, Prof Patricia Eaton in conjunction with teams from Dublin City University, University of Galway, and Queen’s University Belfast.

Stranmillis staff were also represented across the two-day conference, including

  • Dr Jayne Moore, who presented with Dublin City University’s Dr Regina Murphy, on their report ‘Co-constructing understandings of inclusion and democracy through music education with student teachers in North and South’
  • Ms Catriona Rogers and Ms Paula Carlin, presenting with Dr Alison Moore from University College Cork, on their research ‘Facilitating Reflection and Dialogue Across Borders: Establishing a Community of Practice to enhance early years placement experience in Ireland’
  • Dr Gillian Beck, presenting her research ‘Promoting sensory pedagogy for all: a whole class teaching approach to sensory education provision’

Stranmillis University College’s Director of Research and Scholarship, a previous Chair and current member of of SCoTENS Committee, also chaired a panel discussion around a keynote address of the conference from Mr John Lonergan, ‘The challenges that still exist in our efforts to create a fair, just, equal, and inclusive society on the island of Ireland – why teachers play a vital role in helping us to achieve this dream’.

Find out more about SCoTENS on their website here: https://scotens.org/

Staff and students get on their bikes for mental health

Posted on by Andrew McAteer

It was World Mental Health Day this Thursday 10 October, and Stranmillis Students’ Union and our own Student Support team have been busy all week running activities to highlight the importance of mental health and wellness.

The week culminated with a 12-hour Charity Cycle from 8am-8pm in Betty’s Coffee Shop, with staff and students taking part to raise money for charity Made for More NI.

You can watch some video highlights of the charity cycle and the lunchtime mindfulness and movement sessions below.

Celebrating Professional Development at Stran

Posted on by Andrew McAteer

On Tuesday 8th October, Stranmillis University College held a Celebration of Achievement event for a broad range of education professionals undertaking Continuing Professional Development programmes.  The event reflects the strong portfolio of professional development courses developed by the College.

The event marked the culmination of the hard work and dedication of students undertaking the innovative Classroom Assistant Certificate (in association with Belfast City Council), the Post-Qualifying Leadership (PQL) Award, the Middle Leadership Certificate (in association with Craigavon Area Learning Community) and Introduction to SEN Certificate programmes.

The College hosted over 150 guests and students as they received their awards for professional learning.

The event welcomed a series of guest speakers including a keynote speech by the High Sherriff of Belfast, Councillor Sammy Douglas.  Past graduates and leaders from the sector Ms Lyndsey Brown, Acting Principal of Craigavon Senior High School, and the Vice Principal of Millisle Primary School, Ms Sara Gowan, also spoke at the event.

The talks highlighted the importance of Continuing Professional Development for learning support staff, teachers and leaders in all sectors, speaking about the vital importance of career-long professional learning within education.

This message was echoed by Ms Claire Packman, one of the recipients of the Classroom Assistants Certificate, who also spoke on behalf of the awardees.

Commenting, Ms Celia O’Hagan, Head of Masters, Continuing Professional Development and Lifelong Learning at Stranmillis, said: “Continuing professional development and postgraduate learning is a cornerstone of every high quality education system and is essential if we are to continually adapt to societal changes and meet the evolving needs of educators and pupils alike.”

“We must continue to promote and foster an environment where innovation and the sharing of best practice cultivates our communities. As research informs what we do, and learning environments evolve, educators must stay updated to ensure that education remains dynamic, inclusive, relevant and capable of preparing our children and young people for the challenges of the modern world. An ethos of career-long learning empowers educators to refine their skills, embrace new support for Special Needs, enhance pedagogical approaches, and create more effective, engaging learning experiences.”

“Through our research-led professional development provision, the Masters and Doctoral programme, Stranmillis is committed to doing just that, and our awardees tonight are exemplars of educators with that same passion.  We are very impressed with their successes this evening.”

Find out more about the University College’s Professional Development programmes here: https://www.stran.ac.uk/courses/professional-development/

Curriculum in a Changing World: Book Launch

Posted on by Andrew McAteer
Dr Sharon Jones with some of the Stranmillis colleagues who contributed to the book. From l-r: Prof Noel Purdy, Dr Anita Gracie, Dr Sharon Jones, Prof Patricia Eaton, and Jill Magennis.

This Thursday 10th October, the College’s first Lunchtime Seminar of the new academic year kicked off with the launch of a new book from the British Educational Research Association (BERA) entitled Curriculum in a Changing World: 50 think pieces on education, policy, practice, innovation and inclusion.  

Co-edited by Stranmillis University College Senior Lecturer in Education Studies and Chair of BERA’s British Curriculum Forum Steering Group Dr Sharon Jones, the work also contains contributions from Sharon and other Stranmillis academics and friends, including Prof Jonathan Heggarty, Prof Noel Purdy, Prof Patricia Eaton, Dr Anita Gracie, Jill Magennis, UCL’s Prof Lynn Ang (a Visiting Professor at the College), and QUB’s Dr John McMullen.

Published to mark BERA’s 50th anniversary in conjunction with the British Curriculum Forum, the collection draws together essays from eminent curriculum makers and innovators across the UK and beyond, sharing insights into the study and practical implementation of curriculum in schools, colleges, universities and other formal and informal education settings.

Speaking about what she hopes readers will gain from reading the book, Sharon said, “Marking the first 50 years of the British Educational Research Association’s distinguished history, and particularly the work of the British Curriculum Forum, this publication brings together a diverse range of voices and experiences relating to curriculum from different contexts, presenting them in 50 very readable think pieces. Our hope is that the book will kindle vital conversations, engaging researchers, practitioners and policy makers. Ultimately, we hope it will affect curriculum policy and practice for good – for all of our children and communities.” 

Curriculum in a Changing World: 50 think pieces on education, policy, practice, innovation and inclusion is available to buy now from the BERA website: https://www.bera.ac.uk/publication/curriculum-in-a-changing-world

Professional Learning Hubs provide a new model of school collaboration on the PGCE

Posted on by Andrew McAteer

This academic year, the PGCE team have developed and employed a new model of school collaboration and partnership, through the identification of Professional Learning Hubs. From September, for a period of five weeks, the PGCE cohort of students have been visiting settings and observing high quality classroom practice at both Nursery level, and in Special School provision. 

Mrs Claire MacDonald, Vice Principal of Harberton Special School, had this to say about the new setup:  

 “We were delighted to host Stranmillis University College teaching students on placement during the first half of this term. Students observed first-hand the day-to-day operations in a SEN environment working closely with staff, and, had the opportunity to engage with pupils who have a wide range of Special Education Needs. This was an invaluable professional development opportunity for the students, with both Stranmillis students and Harberton staff giving very positive feedback on this experience.  It was a great opportunity for us to meet the aspiring teachers of the future and provide them with an insight into working in Special Education. We look forward to continuing our very successful partnership with Stranmillis University College.”

Stephanie Gillespie, Principal of Shaftebsbury NS, too enjoyed the experience of working with the PGCE students. She led professional workshops focusing on the areas of quality play, outdoor play provision, special provision at Nursery and working with parents: 

“It was a delight to connect with the Stranmillis PGCE students over the last three weeks. Their openness to ongoing reflection and learning made it a mutually positive professional development experience. We reflected on issues pertinent to delivering a high-quality play-based early years learning experience.  Discussions included progression in play-based learning, effective planning and assessment in nursery and a consideration of how critical good interactions are to ensuring a child’s emotional development and early learning. Shaftesbury Nursery School has recently opened a Specialist Provision Early Years Foundation Stage unit (SPEYF). The PGCE students had opportunity to learn firsthand how SEN provision in mainstream schools is developing and how to engage with this. It was a pleasure to have the Stranmillis PGCE students at Shaftesbury and I look forward to continuing to strengthen this ongoing partnership.

Students also valued the new partnership model; 

“From start to finish, the staffing team at Harberton made us feel so welcome. The guidance from the teaching staff helped to clarify what it really means to be a teacher for children with Special Educational Needs.  Their passion and commitment to the individual needs of the children goes above and beyond. We really enjoyed the time we got to spend at Harberton on placement!”

They continued that “we thoroughly enjoyed the play workshops delivered by Stephanie Gillespie, principal of Shaftesbury Nursery. It was great to have the opportunity to receive valuable advice from someone who has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the early years sector. The play workshops were extremely beneficial in preparing us for our first placement in a nursery setting.”

The PGCE cohort are now out on Nursery placement and are looking forward to their next Professional Learning Hub at St Anne’s Primary School Finaghy, where Foundation Stage will be the focus.

Written by Dr Andrea Doherty