The COVID-19 pandemic posed major challenges for the lives of children in terms of school closures, loss of routine, reduced social contact, bereavement and trauma. The pandemic also gave rise to a focus on play as a fundamental support for children's wellbeing. This study examined early childhood teachers' reported practices of using play upon…

Background: In the contemporary recent education landscape, an inventive paradigm known as "STEAM" has emerged, which augments the erstwhile STEM framework by incorporating the dimension of "Art". STEAM endeavors to enhance students' capacities for creativity, innovation, and design thinking. Among the various forms of artistic…

As the COVID-19 pandemic has forced all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to transfer teaching to online platforms, intricate questions in relation to remote teaching and learning dominate the discourse. Teacher educators (TEs) are now tasked with designing online modules, facilitating online learning, and providing direct instruction for…

Background: Research suggests that, in spite of legislation, the process of transition from school is problematic for most young people with disabilities. Best practices in transition emphasise the importance of providing personalised transition supports. This study, which took place in Ireland, aimed to explore the application of social role…

This qualitative research study examined the educational provision for children with medical needs in Irish hospital schools using a case study approach encompassing the perspectives and experiences of 12 teachers currently teaching in two paediatric hospital schools. Document analysis and semi-structured interviews were employed across two…

Generalist primary teachers teach physical education in many countries, and their preparation has been the subject of attention internationally. While they undertake field experiences as part of their preparation to teach, it is unclear how much of their teaching is focused on physical education. Reflective practice is recognised as a significant…

Increasing the participation of children and young people in matters related to their care and aftercare is regarded as international best practice. While research demonstrates that children and young people benefit from involvement in care-related processes, participation continues to pose challenges for social work practitioners. Studies to date…

Introduction: The number of students with disabilities accessing Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including professional courses, has increased substantially within the Republic of Ireland over the past 10 years [AHEAD (Association of Higher Education, Access, and Disability) 2012. "Survey on the Participation Rates of Students with…

Developing sustainable learning networks for entrepreneurs is the core objective of the Sustainable Learning Networks in Ireland and Wales (SLNIW) project. One research team drawn from the Centre for Enterprise Development and Regional Economy at Waterford Institute of Technology and the School of Management and Business from Aberystwyth…

Background: For families of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) getting a diagnosis is a traumatic experience on which future care and education plans for the child depend. In this paper parental experiences of diagnosis and forward planning for children with ASD are reported. Method: This paper is part of a large…

This paper reports the outcome of the Galway Consensus Conference, an effort undertaken as a first step toward international collaboration on credentialing in health promotion and health education. Twenty-nine leading authorities in health promotion, health education, and public health convened a 2-day meeting in Galway, Ireland, during which the…

This case study highlights a typical example of the kind of gap that exists between centralized planning and implementation. Despite the existence of fairly sophisticated central planning machinery in Ireland and an active desire for reform on the part of the government (with an explicit policy on school location, buildings, curriculum, etc.), the…

This manual provides guidance in the maintenance requirements of primary education schools in Ireland, covering: roofing; floors and walls; doors and windows; external and internal finishes; heating, plumbing, and drainage; electrical installations; paved and grassed surfaces; and furniture and loose equipment. The basic considerations are covered…

In this paper the authors report on a qualitative investigation into service mathematics carried out in Irish universities against a backdrop of major concerns nationally and internationally embodied in the so-called "Mathematics problem". The enquiry involved a close inspection of how service mathematics is perceived, planned,…

Teacher professional development at second level in Irish schools has become an important issue for those of us concerned about ensuring quality teaching and learning in the classroom. In-service providers are aware that the models of provision that have been used in the past are no longer adequate to meet the professional needs of a modern…