National Principals' Forum

Lobbying Organisation National Principals' Forum

Date published 07 May, 2020

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Jan, 2020 to 30 Apr, 2020

Specific Details Raising awareness of the issues maligning the Primary Education system, particularly the unsustainable pressures on Principal teachers and also the inadequate provisions and funding for meeting the needs of pupils with Special Education Needs in our schools.

Intended results Raise awareness at DES level and also engage education stakeholders and representative bodies in consultation with school leaders and educators on the ground whose voices need to be heard and whose concerns need to be acknowledged and addressed in policy discourse. Pause the proposed new SNA Frontloading Model until a review of the pilot scheme has been conducted and school leaders consulted.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Angela Dunne and administrative members of the National Principals' Forum.

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Email local representatives and education stakeholders with a template letter seeking a the cessation or pause of the proposed SNA Frontloading Model and outlining the difficulties this will cause for schools and our ability to meet the need of our pupils with SEN and in particular those pupils with care needs.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members We used email to send a message to primary school principals nationwide directing them to our website where template letters are available to amend and email to public representatives, the DES and Minister for Education and Skills, and other education stakeholders.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

NPF sent an email directly to the Minister for Education and Skills and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills outlining our collective concerns regarding the proposed Total Inclusion Model of Education, the SNA Frontloading model and the difficulties we face trying to meet the needs of all of our pupils, particularly those with SEN, without adequate and fair provisions being given to schools by the DES and NCSE. We again sought engagement and dialogue on these matters.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Joe McHugh Minister (Department of Education and Skills)