DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) aims to provide children and young people (from pre-school through second-level education and onwards to further education) with an equal chance to access, participate in and benefit from education.
The DEIS Plan outlines the Department of Education’s vision for education to “…more fully become a proven pathway to better opportunities for those in communities at risk of disadvantage and social exclusion.”
DEIS Planning seeks to support pupils/students attending schools that have high concentrations of pupils/students from areas of social and economic disadvantage through programmes that:
- Enhance the quality of teaching and learning in schools (including continuing professional development for teachers in literacy and numeracy, active learning methodologies, supporting pupils’/students’ wellbeing, and positive behaviour support programmes)
- Provide additional supports so that pupils/students are ready to access education (improving attendance, school meals, homework clubs, after school clubs, School Completion Programme, programmes that support pupil/student wellbeing, summer camps)
- Increase the engagement of parents in the education of their children (the Home School Community Liaison scheme (HSCL), Parents’ Councils)
- Enhance the transition of children from pre-school to primary school; from primary school to second-level; and to retain students in second level through the provision of national curriculum programmes /curriculum frameworks such as the Junior Certificate Schools Programme which is aimed at students who are at risk of learning school without formal qualifications; and to support students until they complete the Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and can then transition to third level, further education, apprenticeships or work.