Education
Money might be tight, but Northern Ireland has to treat vulnerable children better
2 Mar 2023Ryan Miller undefinedEducation, SEN, Sight loss, Hearing loss, Vulnerable children, Disability
The High Court this week declared that the rights of two children with sight loss were breached when authorities failed to help get them to school. This grim story points to a bigger problem facing NI.
Are we comfortable with continuing to fail children with SEN?
16 Feb 2023Ryan Miller undefinedEducation, SEN, Social Policy
For years, mental health provision was described as Northern Ireland’s ‘Cinderella Service’. What words would best describe services for special educational needs?
Academic selection is under the microscope again
8 Dec 2022Ryan Miller undefinedEducation, Academic Selection, Mental Health
Another year’s transfer tests have just finished – will there be many more? Or, with the Independent Review of Education due to wrap up in the Spring, could academic selection at age 11 be headed for the scrapheap?
Childcare needs support, and right now – for everyone’s benefit
25 Nov 2022Ryan Miller undefinedEconomy, Childcare, Education, Social Policy, Children, Early Years
For too long, childcare in Northern Ireland has been treated as an afterthought. As inflation hits its highest rate for over four decades, the pressure on both providers and parents is coming to a head.
Bullying is a nightmare for parents – how do they help their kids?
17 Nov 2022Ryan Miller undefinedBullying, Mental Health, Children, Young People, Education, Schools
The idea that your child could face bullying is quite terrifying. Surveys show lots of children experience bullying. However, there are ways adults can help.
Schools are vital, but we can all help increase children’s physical activity
9 Nov 2022Ryan Miller undefinedHealth, Mental Health, Children, Young People, Education, Physical Activity, Play
A new report from the Education and Training Inspectorate found that most schools are falling short of targets for PE. That needs to change, along with many other things, to halt the decline in kids’ physical play.
Shroud education: sharing and the future
20 Aug 2015Ryan Miller Equality, Social Policy, Education, Community Relations, Peace Process, Politics
Shared Education is the big new thing for helping society come together and improving schooling. But what are we supposed to expect?
Infirm foundations – underachievement must be addressed
9 Jul 2015Ryan Miller Education, Equality
Last week the PUP released a report on education, focused on underachievement by working-class protestants. Scope takes a look at the points made by the paper – and identifies a further conclusion of its own.
Children's book scheme reaches the end of the road
7 Jul 2015Nick Garbutt Education
When the Department of Education announced it was to stop funding Northern Ireland’s Bookstart scheme it said it was “working around the clock” to find alternative sources of funding.
The demolition of community education in Northern Ireland
28 Apr 2015Nick Garbutt Education
Just imagine the uproar if the education department withdrew a school’s funding two months before the end of term leaving A Level and GSCE students without teachers, and the rest of the pupils scrambling for places elsewhere.
