€2k grant to support pupil well-being in Cork 20 schools

Hildegarde Naughton, the education and youth minister, has announced details of a well-being grant scheme to augment the supports that are being provided by education teams in school clusters in Cork.

All schools taking part in strand two of the counselling and mental-health pilots in primary schools are set to receive a payment of €2,000 to promote and support wellbeing initiatives among their school communities.

The funds will be used by schools to develop supports, such as gardens, the purchasing of sensory regulation equipment, the running of ambassador programmes, and other well-being-promoting interventions.

There are 20 Cork schools taking part in counselling and mental health pilots.

They include St Vincent’s Convent National School, Scoil Iosagáin, Scoil Chroí Íosa, Cara Junior School, Burnfort NS, Mallow Community National School, St Killian’s Special School, and Gaelscoil Thomais Dáibhís.

Strand two of the counselling and mental-health pilots in primary schools sees newly-established education wellbeing teams — which consist of education wellbeing practitioners and a lead NEPS psychologist — supporting clusters of schools in promoting wellbeing and mental health.

The teams provide psycho-educational support to parents and teachers and early intervention to children with mild or emerging needs.

The pilot is being delivered under the direction and supervision of the national educational psychological service.

Ms Naughton said that all children in schools across the country should have the very best opportunity to thrive.

For further information on the counselling and mental-health pilots in primary schools, visit gov.ie/counsellingpilot.