Post Primary

 SUITABLE FOR Primary and Post-Primary CSPE, Science, SPHE, Transition Year

Following on from our successful series for the past three academic school year. Join a collective group of teachers for 15 minutes every Monday who are bringing nature into their classrooms. 

Join us for Bitesize Biodiversity. Weekly 15-minute sessions where we explore our native Irish flora and fauna . Discover fascinating wildlife insights, gather resources, and ignite your students' curiosity about the natural world.

Thursday 2nd October 4pm: Getting back into the Garden - How to get started with school growing and how to find your way through the summer overgrowth. 

Thursday 6th November 4pm: Autumn Planting - It’s time to sow: Onions and Garlic. Preparing your garden for overwintering.

Thursday 5th March 4pm: Preparing for Spring - Checking in on Onions and Garlic. It’s time to sow: Peas, Broad Beans and Potatoes.

Thursday 9th April 4pm: Spring Sowings - It’s time to sow: Salad Leaves, Parsnip and Radish.

Thursday 7th May 4pm: Sharing Stories - Celebrating harvests simply at school. It's time to sow: Carrots, Beetroot, Chard and Pumpkins. It's time to Harvest: Salad Leaves and radish.

Thursday 4th June 4pm: Preparing for Summer - It’s time to sow: Swede (Parsnips). It’s time to transplant: Pumpkins. It’s time to harvest: Potatoes, Peas and Beans.

Course delivered by Deirdre Madden - UCC

This course is aimed at post primary teachers, with many references to the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate exams in the videos. However, this technology is applicable to all learners and primary school teachers are welcome to this course to learn how to use this technology with their younger learners

The course is run over two evenings:

• Tuesday the 4th and 11th November, 2025

Feedback from the last session:

• Thanks Deirdre. Great course, great technology. The course was well delivered and the technology shown in the course can all work together to make learning easier for all learners.
• Deirdre was a brilliant presenter. I learnt so much from her. I would most definitely sign up to any webinars led by her in the future.
• Very practical course run by an enthusiastic presenter
• Deirdre is a fountain of knowledge and has a brilliant style that engages the participant very well. 

UCC have created a online course/resource on free Technology to Make Learning Easier for school students and teachers. Importantly this course/resource  covers free or built-in software on phones/tablets, in MS Office 365, in Google or software that is just free to download.  Learn to take full advantage of  the technology you/your school already has to help make reading, writing and studying easier. There is no cost involved!                   

Cork Education Support Service and UCC are delighted to offer you training (2 x 2 hour sessions) where you will be taken through using these tools, this course/resource will allow a chance between the sessions to try it out and come back with queries and questions. 

Technology can have a positive, role in making learning easier and in giving students and educators greater choices in how, where and when they learn. In this free course/resource, aimed at TY students and educators (but applicable to all), we offer training videos, links and advice to make reading, writing and studying easier for students. It explores various free technologies either already on your computer, your phones or technology that is free to download.

Making Reading Easier: Students can learn how to get their phone to read notes/ quotes/ definitions etc read aloud to them. There are tools to get the computer/phone to read aloud to you. There are even options to have text read aloud in Irish, French, German and other languages to help prepare for oral/aural exams. Making a sound file of text to listen to learn/revise anywhere, anytime even on your phone is so easy and convenient. 

Making Writing Easier: Another section of the course shows how to get your phone /computer to type what you say to speed up project work. It also covers using free mind mapping software to plan/ structure your written work to speed up and improve your homework, projects, classroom based assessments etc.

Making Studying Easier: In this part of the course students can learn to use mind maps to study and make excellent, visual revision notes with images, video and even sound files.  You can then access your mind maps study on your phone anywhere, anytime.

To allow students to make the most of these excellent, free learning tools we also examine some fundamental IT skills including touch-typing and file management. Resources to help teachers to share their teaching and learning materials digitally are also included to allow students to utilise technology to make their learning easier.

Click here for an overview of this course/resource:  Free Technology to Make Learning Easier
This CESC course will train you to use these tools and explore how you can use them with your colleagues and students to make learning easier.

Sincere thanks to the SOAR Project for funding. Created by UCC’s Disability Support Service.

A link to access the course will be emailed to you prior to the course.

In a world flooded with information and misinformation, young people can easily be influenced by parents, peers, and social media on key issues like climate change and migration. How can teachers equip students with the tools to think critically, question what they’re told, and form informed opinions?

In a busy term, SNAs often forget their own needs. This session encourages nourishment from the inside out—exploring rest, boundaries, hydration, movement, and emotional care.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn strategies to support physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
• Reflect on personal boundaries and their importance in professional settings.

•          Develop a self-care plan tailored to the school term.

• Identify strategies to build a hopeful and positive classroom culture.

Facilitator: Magdalena Landziak

Magdalena has over 8 years of experience working as a Special Needs Assistant in a primary school in Co. Limerick, supporting children with additional needs. She is the Editor and Publisher of AMYGDALA – the First National Magazine for SNAs. Magdalena graduated from UCD after completing the National Training Programme for SNAs and earning a Certificate in Inclusive School Support. With a teaching background from Poland, she expanded her expertise by graduating in May 2024 from Trinity College Dublin with a Postgraduate Level 9 qualification in 21st Century Teaching and Learning. Recently, she completed her Master's in Inclusive Education and SEN and is awaiting the results. Magdalena is running an Instagram page called @sna_zone where she provides valuable resources for SNAs and educators. Magdalena is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience with fellow SNAs. She is deeply passionate about advocating for children's rights every day and embraces everything about inclusive education.

In a time of constant change, it’s essential to build your capacity to respond rather than react. This session empowers teachers with mindset shifts and wellbeing strategies to navigate uncertainty with greater confidence and clarity.

This session will cover:

• The psychology of change and transition
• Emotional regulation during periods of uncertainty
• Personal and professional adaptability tools
• Learning Outcomes:
  The programme will help participants:
• Cultivate clarity and calm when faced with stress and uncertainty
• Understand how to lead students through uncertain or challenging times
• Apply tools that support flexible thinking and emotional resilience

Equipping educators to lead wellbeing with confidence in a digital world

This three-part series is designed to support schools in integrating artificial intelligence tools to enhance wellbeing practices, aligning directly with the Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice (2018–2023). The webinars are accessible, CPD-friendly, and grounded in real-world application, offering educators practical tools without added workload.

Session 1 Understanding AI in Wellbeing: What’s Possible, What’s Practical on Wednesday 5th November @ 7pm

This webinar introduces educators to the evolving role of AI in promoting sustainable wellbeing practices in schools. We’ll explore what AI is (and isn’t), highlight practical tools already being used to support student voice, mental health, and educator workload reduction, and unpack the ethical considerations of AI use in education. Grounded in the Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework, this session positions AI as a support—not a replacement—for human connection, helping schools develop long-term, scalable approaches to wellbeing that are both effective and sustainable

Session 2 Everyday AI: Tools to Promote Student Wellbeing on Wednesday 12th November @ 7pm

This hands-on webinar introduces practical AI tools that educators can use to enhance student wellbeing on a day-to-day basis. From creating personalised wellbeing check-ins to designing visual supports and reflective activities, we’ll explore how AI can streamline planning, boost student engagement, and give students greater voice in their wellbeing journey. The session includes simple demonstrations, ethical considerations, and examples of how AI can support the Wellbeing Framework without adding to staff workload.

Session 3 Keeping It Human: AI, Empathy & Student Voice on Wednesday 19th November @ 7pm

This webinar explores how educators can use AI to enhance—rather than replace—the human connections that underpin student wellbeing. With a focus on empathy, equity, and psychological safety, we’ll examine how AI can be used to strengthen student voice, support inclusive practices, and create emotionally intelligent learning environments. The session also addresses ethical use, digital responsibility, and the role of AI in building sustainable, relationship-based wellbeing systems that align with the Wellbeing Framework and Climate Action Education goals.

Each session will include examples, walkthroughs, and takeaway resources that can be implemented immediately in schools. The focus is on blending innovation with empathy—ensuring AI supports, not replaces, the human connection at the heart of education.

For Primary and Post Primary Teachers and SNAs.

What will I learn?

• What is assistive technology (AT).
• Advice on students using the computer well to make best use of Assistive Technology.
• To use literacy support software for students with language difficulties
• About thesaurus, vocabulary lists, picture dictionaries and other tools to enhance vocabulary.
• About using mindmaps for more visual student to: 

• plan their written work – essays, projects etc.
• make their notes, study and revise.
• teach these students with more visual materials

• About features in iPads and on Windows to support need of students who are deaf/hard of hearing
• About students using assisted listening systems in the classroom and tips for teachers/SNAs on same.
• About DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) and HEAR (Higher Education Access Route)

A link to access the course will be emailed to you prior to the course.