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Career Break Scheme for teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs)
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A Career Break is a period of unpaid special leave for no less than 1 school year. It may be extended on an annual basis if the total period of the Career Break is not longer than 5 years at any time, and is a maximum of 10 years during a teacher/SNA’s career.
The main aim of the Career Break Scheme is to facilitate a teacher's personal and professional development in the following areas:
- voluntary service overseas
- accompanying spouse or partner on diplomatic or military posting
- educational purposes
- public representation
- family reasons
- personal development
- self-employment
For further information, please refer to the Career Break Scheme contained in Circular Letter 0054/2019 titled “Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers Employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools”.
In response to issues raised in relation to teacher supply, certain restrictions imposed in the Career Break Scheme have been suspended for the past number of school years. These restrictions are also suspended for the 2024/25 school year. A teacher who is on a Career Break may be employed, in a substitute capacity only, without the restrictions imposed in the Career Break Scheme as contained in Chapter 7 (Paragraph 8.1) of Circular 54/2019. For further details, please refer to Information Note TC/IN 0009/2024
The Career Break Scheme provides SNAs with an option to avail of a leave of absence from school, without pay, for a minimum period of 1 year.
Objectives of the scheme include:
- education
- personal development
- childcare
For further information on Career Break Scheme for SNA’s please see the circulars below:
A teacher must complete the Application Form on page 107 of Circular 0054/2019. They must submit it to their employer by 1 February of each school year prior to the school year in which they want to begin or extend a career break.
0054/2019
Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers employed in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools
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Special needs assistants seeking a career break must submit a letter of application to their employer by 1 March of each school year prior to the school year in which they want to begin or extend the career break.
Teacher and SNAs: Teacher/SNA Terms and Conditions Section
Address:
Teacher/SNA Terms & Conditions, Department of Education, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath N37 X659
Email:
Phone number:
Summary:
Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are encouraged to submit queries regarding SNA Leave Schemes to their employers in the first instance. All employers have access to applicable Circulars relating to SNA Leave Schemes. Queries relating to statutory and non-statutory SNAs Leave Schemes can be submitted to Leave Admin Section, Teacher/SNA Terms and Conditions Section at the email address above. Recruitment and Appointment Unit in Teacher/SNA Terms and Conditions Section sets out the recruitment and appointment procedures for SNAs for the primary and post primary sector. Queries should be submitted to PORqueries@education.gov.ie