Home > Wellbeing policy statement and framework for practice 2018 - 2023.

Ireland. Department of Education and Skills. (2019) Wellbeing policy statement and framework for practice 2018 - 2023. Dublin: Government of Ireland.

External website: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie...


Key messages from the report:

Schools and centres for education in Ireland play a vital role in the promotion of wellbeing through a range of activities and approaches to support the academic, physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual development of all children and young people. Many schools and centres for education have already developed innovative approaches to wellbeing promotion supported by strong leadership and quality teaching and learning. Our education system is key to equipping children and young people with the knowledge, skills and competencies to deal with challenges that impact on their wellbeing.

This policy statement provides an overarching structure encompassing existing, ongoing and developing work in this area including the Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum at the primary level, and the Junior Cycle Wellbeing Programme at the post primary level. This policy is for schools, centres for education, children and young people, parents/carers, support services, government departments, non-government organisations and all those with an interest in wellbeing promotion in education.The Department of Education and Skills aims to ensure that the experience of children and young people from the early years and throughout their primary and post primary education will be one that enhances, promotes, values and nurtures their wellbeing.

The vision and ambition of the Department of Education and Skills in relation to Wellbeing Promotion sets out to ensure that by 2023:

  • the promotion of wellbeing will be at the core of the ethos of every school and centre for education
  • all schools and centres for education will provide evidence-informed approaches and support, appropriate to need, to promote the wellbeing of all their children and young people
  • Ireland will be recognised as a leader in this area

To implement this policy every school and centre for education is required by 2023, to use the School Self-Evaluation (SSE) process to initiate a wellbeing promotion review and development cycle. Schools and centres for education will be supported in this process through using the Wellbeing Practice Framework and online Wellbeing Resources, and by the Department of Education Support Services.

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