The SNA U-turn mess, with Ciara Reilly Podcast Episode · The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast · 27 February · 29m

A few days ago, I spoke to @deshocks.bsky.social on her Irish Examiner podcast to unpack why change in inclusive Ed is urgently needed and why we need to extend the SNA conversation beyond some of the headlines you may have heard so far. #edchatie
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...

When school is the only place holding a family afloat A story from Cork this week reminded us what happens when families, schools and children are left to carry the weight and neglect of State systems that were never designed to hold them.

New Substack post on what happened in Cork this week, and what it says about the current state of play in special education. #edchatie

Like listening to podcasts? How about making some! Our short online course introduces primary teachers to podcasting in the classroom, in particular to support the Primary Language Curriculum.

Self-enrol: https://bit.ly/Podcast-PLC

#DTonlinecourses #Edchatie

Digital Storytelling can be used right across the post-primary curriculum. Consider taking an hour to learn about the benefits, techniques and approaches you can use.

Self-enrol: https://bit.ly/DigStory_PP

#DTonlinecourses #Edchatie

Call for papers! A new special issue of our @ijtel.bsky.social celebrating 25 years of the @iltasky.bsky.social EdTech conference and community has now launched. How has edtech evolved & who or what has been missing from the conversation?
🔗 journal.ilta.ie/index.php/te... #edchatie #edusky #SoTL

AI is Step 3, Not Step 1 Any good initiative or programme starts with a problem. A problem that, if left unsolved, makes someone’s life harder or worse than it otherwise could be. Once a problem is highlighted and br…

I feel like every second post I see at the moment is about AI in education, so I'm wary of adding to that number. But I've managed to find the words to explain what bothers me about general training on AI. Two-minute read.

#edchatie

linguisticket.wordpress.com/2026/03/05/a...

History | NCCA

Draft specification for Leaving Cert History
#EdChatie
#HistEdchatie

ncca.ie/en/senior-cy...

Saint Patrick’s Day Colouring Pages I have some colouring in pages for Saint Patrick’s Day I’m re-upping for classes or families who are looking for some original and fun Saint Patrick’s Day black and white drawings…

Saint Patrick's Day Colouring Pages www.caricatures-ireland.com/saint-patric... #speirgorm #saintpatricksday #stpatricksday #cartoon #edchatie

The LAI has launched a brand new and very exciting Literacy Leadership award - read all about it here 👉www.literacyireland.com/awardforliteracyleadersh... #spéirghorm #edusky #edchatie #literacy #booksky

📚✨ An bhfuil suim agat i pictiúrleabhair Ghaeilge?
Interested in bringing Irish-language picture books into your classroom?

This may be of interest to #teachers who are Dublin-based (or close by!) #edchatie #Gaeilge #Booksky #Spéirghorm

Edtech you: digital learning from how to who

Only 7 days left to submit! 📣

The call for abstracts for the Annual EdTech Conference from the Irish Learning Technology Association is closing soon. Join us in Dublin this June 2026!

Find out more: ilta.ie/edtech-2026/

#HigherEd #edchatie #edusky #HEIE #edtech26 #sotl #academicsky

🚨 Last chance to register:
Our Digital Wellbeing Workshop for School Leaders takes place this afternoon, packed with practical strategies you can use immediately
📅 Today, 25 Feb
⏰ 4-5 PM
Register now 👉 t.co/iEoVaGZF2s
#digitalwellbeing #SID2026 @HP @AMD #EdChat #EDChatIE

The SNA debacle: The 13 things that should happen next So, here it is.

Grateful to have had two shout-outs for my Substack on the floor of Dáil Éireann this week.
Here’s my most recent piece on where we need to go next. Beyond pauses, optics, and blame, and toward real structural change. open.substack.com/pub/ciararei... #edchatie

Ciara Reilly: Power shift behind SNA U-turn exposes Government's weakness The Government’s climbdown on SNA allocations reveals fragile leadership, weak reform planning, and deep mistrust in special education policy

I'm writing in today's Irish Examiner on what this SNA U-turn tells us about this government coalition. Spoiler alert: it's not good. www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm... #edchatie

The SNA Debacle As they say, a week is a long time in politics, and last week was particularly long for some. We moved from a cliff edge of cuts to Special Needs Assistant places, to the Government ‘Pausing&…

Irish Education for the past week has been full of debate around the Special Needs Assistants debacle (from the government)
Here's my thoughts:
john-hurley.com/2026/02/23/t...
#speirgorm
#edchatie

#edchatIE

Call for pause to Senior Cycle science assessments A body representing science teachers here has called for an immediate pause to be placed on the assessment components of new senior cycle curricula introduced this year for 5th year students of biolog...

It’s great to see @irishsciteach.bsky.social new report getting some traction in the media - many thanks to @emma-okelly.bsky.social for highlighting the report’s findings. #edchatIE

www.rte.ie/news/2026/02...

A must-read for all those interested in Senior Cycle Reform in Ireland ... the data presented in this report strongly supports the ISTA view that the AACs are not workable in our under-resourced Irish schools. #edchatIE

Delighted to have my copy of the second edition of #CallToAction my new #CSPE textbook, updated with word banks, twice as many CBA ideas and guidelines and even more topical and engaging activities, contact your local Gill sales rep today for your copy #EdChatIE

Recently I see more and more obviously AI created images that tend to be bland.
I came across this very readable post from Jason O'Gorman on how to use 7 design principles
Well worth a few minutes of your time:
www.humanosity.ie/visual-desig...
#speirgorm
#edchatie

Critical pedagogy and empowering teachers.

My Letter to the Editor in today's Irish Times.

#LeavingCert #PoliticsAndSociety
#Edchatie #Edusky #Speirgorm

They pressed pause. Now what. It’s the morning after the great SNA review fallout of 2026, and I thought I would pen down where we are in the aftermath.

4. Finally, my latest piece from this morning with a whole lot of "now whatness?" fleshed out.

open.substack.com/pub/ciararei...

#edchatie

A Pause Is Not A Plan I see they’ve paused the SNA review announcements.

3. My immediate response to the pause announcement yesterday afternoon:

open.substack.com/pub/ciararei...

#edchatie

The era of the SNA as we knew it is over. It's time to lower class size. So where are we after yesterday’s post?

2. Further commentary from Sunday with follow on from the previous post:

open.substack.com/pub/ciararei...

#edchatie

SNA cuts: This Did Not Come Out Of Nowhere The SNA cuts in Ireland are being rolled out thick and fast this month.

My analysis of the SNA cuts/freeze as covered in my Substack over the past couple of days:

1. From last Saturday open.substack.com/pub/ciararei...

#edchatie

Ciara Reilly: Definition of need has changed to save money on SNAs Pause to planned special needs assistant allocation review feels neither reassuring nor meaningful. We’ll be here again unless big changes happen, writes teacher Ciara Reilly

Wrote this for the Examiner today.

www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

#edchatie

English Meet 2026 — Julian Girdham The fifth English Meet for teachers of English in the Dublin will be on the evening of Thursday 7th May 2026. We’re looking for speakers. And click through for tickets.

English teachers in the Dublin area. The fifth English Meet is on Thursday 7th May. Eager for presenting volunteers. Do get in touch! #edchatie

Free tickets:
www.juliangirdham.com/blog/english...

The Jennifer Burke Award for Innovation in Teaching & Learning is now open for submissions! 🌟 Back for 2025, this award celebrates innovative, real-world teaching practices. ILTA wants to hear your story. #edusky #edtech26 #edchatie

Why are we so afraid of failure? As teachers we are very fond of certain quotations: Edison – “I’ve not failed, I’ve found 1,000 ways that don’t work” Churchill – “Success is not fin…

Latest post, "why are we so afraid of failure?"
#speirgorm
#edchatie
john-hurley.com/2026/02/16/w...

2/2 ... Tales has shifted from Dublin-centric to a nationwide reach, DEIS schools now the majority of workshop targets & feedback from young "Word Warriors" show they feel more creative & more confident.

More on Tales here:
🔗https://tinyurl.com/3weeyvwh

#edchatie #speirgorm #edusky