Minister Foley announces details of grant scheme for schools in Strand Two of the Counselling in Primary Schools pilot
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From: Department of Education
- Published on: 17 October 2024
- Last updated on: 17 October 2024
Minister for Education Norma Foley has announced details of a grant scheme to augment the supports being provided by Education Wellbeing Teams on a pilot basis in school clusters in Cork, Carlow, Dublin 7 and Dublin 16.
These schools have been working with newly-established Education Wellbeing Teams since last year. The teams are comprised of Education Wellbeing Practitioners and a lead NEPS psychologist, supporting clusters of schools in promoting wellbeing and mental health.
Now all these schools are set to receive a once-off payment of €2,000 to promote and support wellbeing-focused initiatives among their school communities in the 2024 / 2025 school year.
Examples of the types of initiatives which schools could put the grant funding towards include the development of wellbeing gardens, commissioning wellbeing murals and setting up of calming zones.
It can also cover the purchase of sensory regulation equipment, running Wellbeing Ambassador programmes and more. Schools will have flexibility in using the funding to best suit locally-identified needs.
Minister Foley said:
“It is so important that all children and young people are empowered and facilitated to feel safe and supported during their time in our schools. On my visits to schools I see the difference it makes when wellbeing is to the fore – pupils have greater opportunity to make friends, thrive and realise their full potential. I am most pleased today, therefore, to be announcing details of the grant scheme for Strand Two of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot which will enhance the existing wellbeing and mental health supports in place in schools in Cork, Carlow, Dublin 7 and Dublin 16.”
• Strand 1 of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot is the provision of one-to-one counselling support to a small number of primary school pupils in counties Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, and Tipperary.
• Strand 2 of the pilot is the establishment of a new type of support to schools from Education Wellbeing Teams and sees the introduction of Education Wellbeing Practitioners to provide enhanced in-school supports for clusters of primary schools in Cork, Carlow, Dublin 7, and Dublin 16.
Schools taking part in Strand Two of this pilot programme will receive the €2,000 grant funding directly, along with guidance for gathering the views of pupils and parents, so that they can develop strategies and measures which help them to further bring about positive changes in the wellbeing of children, parents and wider school communities.
Find out more about Strand Two of the Counselling in Primary Schools pilot programme in this video.
Notes to Editor
Strand 1 of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot
Strand 1 is the provision of one-to-one counselling support to a small number of primary school pupils in counties Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, and Tipperary. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) on behalf of the Department has established county panels of pre-approved private counsellors to provide the in-person one-to-one counselling support.
Strand 2 of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot
Strand 2 of the pilot is the establishment of a new type of support to schools from Education Wellbeing Teams and sees the introduction of Education Wellbeing Practitioners to provide enhanced in-school supports for clusters of primary schools in Cork, Carlow, Dublin 7, and Dublin 16.
Strand 2 of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot operates in strategic partnership with Cork ETB.
The Education Wellbeing Teams are working with pupils, parents, and school staff to support wellbeing and resilience at a whole school level.
For further information on the Counselling in Primary Schools pilot programme, see Item was unpublished or removed.