Tag Archives: news/events

Parent Participation Service

Posted on by

The Parent Participation service recognizes the importance of designing services with parents using their voice and the skills of practitioners together to improve services. We understand the vital role that parents have in creating improved outcomes for children and families. We are here to support parents to influence the activities of the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP) and to support service providers to develop and improve co-production practice with parents for more information visit https://www.ci-ni.org.uk/welcome-to-parent-participation-service/ 

Ministers’ Encourage Young People to Become ‘PROUD’ Detectives and Investigate Plastic Waste in Their Schools

Posted on by

The Minister for Education has lent her support to the Education Authority’s school competition inviting pupils to investigate the use and disposal of single use plastic in their schools. The competition is run in partnership with Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Queens University Belfast, Department of Education (DE) and Eco Schools (KNIB).

Pupils will act as Plastic Reduction Organisation Ultra Detectives (PROUD) within their school, undertaking an investigation into how waste is produced, its costs and wider impact on the environment. Pupils will have to collate the evidence and report back on how they plan to reduce their environmental impact in their school.

The competition is open to Key Stage 2 (P5 to P7) and Key Stage 3 (Year 8 to Year 10) pupils, with the winning entries earning their ‘PROUD’ Detective Badge and sharing a total prize fund of £2000 prize money. If schools wish to take part they can register interest via the website or by sending an email to info@reducingplastic.com.

Monetary prizes will be awarded to schools placed 1st (£800), 2nd (£500) and 3rd (£250), and £150 prize money for ‘Highly Commended’ 1 x Primary, 1 x Post Primary and 1 x Special School sponsored by DAERA, Eco Schools (KNIB), and Queens University Belfast.

Entries must be submitted by the closing date, Wednesday 25th May 2022.

 

Launch of Outdoor Learning Resource for Schools

Posted on by

The Education Authority has worked in partnership with Killylea Primary School to create a Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) resource to support outdoor learning.

The featured module sits within the TPL Supported Learning website and consists of six videos, led by Pam Lowry, Principal of Killylea PS, which outline the journey, activities and benefits of outdoor learning.

EA Chairperson Barry Mulholland, said: “The launch of this new outdoor educational resource is an excellent example of the Education Authority working collaboratively with school leaders to share their innovative teaching practices with the rest of the education sector to improve the educational experiences of our children and young people. I would like to thank principal Pam Lowry, teaching staff and children at Killylea Primary School for working with us to create this valuable learning resource.”

 

Portadown Gets Active – Easter 2022

Posted on by

Portadown Gets Active went “Under The Sea” this Easter and a fortunate spell of great weather allowed plenty of outdoor activities for all involved!

Day 1 included a walk to Portadown People’s Park for some sports, with a great variety of fun and engaging games to start off the 3-day programme. (A huge shout out to Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council Sports Development for providing their coaching expertise.)

Day 2 included a trip to Exploris Aquarium; a first visit for the majority of the participants, but certainly not the last!

Day 3 was Family Day, which always provides a great way for parents to meet the team of young volunteers and chat with partners and staff. A fantastic lunch was served after a visit from CYPSP, Parentline NI, NIACRO / Family Support Hub and Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI). And not forgetting the various games, challenges, riddles and lots of prizes in the form of sweet treats! This finale day is one of the highlights because it is organised by the programme’s Aspire leaders and all the games and activities are created and delivered by them.

Such a programme would not be possible without local corporate sponsor, ALMAC, who have supported the delivery of the Portadown Gets Active programme over the past 4 years.

A huge thanks also goes to all of the partners involved in the PGA programme (Oasis, CiNI, CYPSP, ABC Council, Family Support Hub, SHSCT and the PHA).

See more pictures of Easter Portadown Gets Active 2022 on Oasis’ Facebook page HERE.

 

Poverty and Infant Mental Health

Posted on by

The NI Association for Infant Mental Health (AIMH NI), Stronger From the Start Alliance and AIMH UK cordially invite you to attend our online Infant Mental Health Awareness Week conference on how poverty impacts the social and emotional development of infants and their relationships with caregivers:

Poverty & Infant Mental Health: 

Understanding the Relationship, Challenging the Status Quo

Friday 17th June 2022

9.30am-1.00pm 

With 1 in 4 children in Northern Ireland living in poverty and rates of poverty increasing most significantly for families where the youngest child is under one year old, we ask: Is anyone holding baby in mind?

Keynote speaker, Robin Balbernie, Child Psychotherapist and Infant Mental Health Specialist, will be joined by parents, practitioners and policy makers, to discuss the key issues and focus on ‘what works’ solutions to ensure every child in Northern Ireland gets the best start in life.

Local contributors include:

  • Parents & Practitioners from ABC PiP, MAS Project and STEP
  • Dr. Ciara Fitzpatrick, Ulster University
  • Peter Toogood, Department of Health
  • Tracy Johnston, Department for Communities
  • Linsey Farrell, Department of Education
  • Maurice Meehan, PHA

For further information and to receive the Zoom joining details, please register your attendance on Eventbrite: AIMH NI and Stronger From The Start Event – #IMHAW2022 Tickets, Fri 17 Jun 2022 at 09:30 | Eventbrite

This event is being held as part of Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 and we’d be hugely grateful if you can support our awareness raising efforts by sharing this invitation across your networks.