"To be supported means, knowing that there are resources available to you which help you to give the best possible experience to your student. It means knowing that there is support available to you should you need to avail of it" Practice teacher, 2022
According to practice teachers the following makes them feel supported in their role as a practice teachers.
Organisational support: line manager, supervision and peer support within your organisation.
- "The help and support of team members and management. The availability of necessary equipment and resources."
- "The structure in our organisation supports students , culture of learning in our organisation and co ordinating of placements. "
- "The undertaking of the post grad diploma in practice teaching, supervision and management was a good support and provided a very good base. My team were also very supportive and open to the idea of working with a student."
University support: Placement learning coordinator, tutor, course director, CPD events, call in days.
- "The role of the college and the placement tutor help enormously to validate any concerns and discuss the next best approach."
- "Ongoing communication with tutor and college."
Peer support from other Practice teachers.
- "Sharing, the positives and negative with other practice teachers. Having the Practice teacher coordinator availability if queries issues arise."
NPTSWI (National Practice Teaching in Social Work Initiative): This new initiative will support practice teaching allowing access to teaching and learning resources in the form of : CPD events, website, bi-annual newsletters.
If difficulties arise: In some cases difficulties may arise on the placement. It is important to address these concerns early and liaise with the tutor and the practice education team/coordinator in the first instance for support.
College wide student support services include:
Student Counselling Services
The SCS offer free, confidential and non-judgmental support to registered students of Trinity College Dublin who are experiencing personal and/or academic concerns.
Phone: (01) 8961407
Email: student-counselling@tcd.ie
Web: https://www.tcd.ie/Student_Counselling/
Disability Service
Trinity has adopted a Reasonable Accommodation Policy that outlines how supports are implemented in Trinity. Students in receipt of reasonable accommodations in College, should discuss implications for placement based learning with their Disability Officer. If required they will be issued with a Professional Learning Education Needs Summary – PLENS with recommended reasonable accommodations for placement. This is also discussed with the Practice Education team as part of the placement planning process.
Student Learning Development
In addition to the guidance offered to students in lectures and tutorials, the college also provides additional student supports to any student who is in need of assistance with their written work, examinations and other course assessments. The webpages of SLD (Student Learning Development) list a variety of workshops and events on a range of academic skills to help students achieve their academic potential. Web: http://studentlearning.tcd.ie/
College Tutor
All registered undergraduate students are allocated a College Tutor at the start of their first year. The College Tutor can advise on course choices, study skills, examinations, fees, represent students in academic appeals, in applications for ‘time off books’, readmission, course transfer applications, and any other matter which may require an official response from College. The College Tutor can also advise if personal matters impinge on academic work, and provide information on relevant services and facilities in college.
Postgraduate Advisory Service
The post-graduate advisory service is a confidential service available to all registered postgraduate students at Trinity College. It offers a comprehensive range of academic, pastoral, and professional supports dedicated to enhancing the student experience.
For details of further sources of support and help in Trinity College
please go to http://www.tcdlife.ie
As a Practice Teacher, it is important to note that the following services are available to students:
Student Services https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/student-services
Student services are a central point for support services. The services are available in person and online. Services include for example counselling, health centre, budgeting, and chaplaincy.
Academic/Writing support- is available from the writing centre https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/centre-teaching-and-learning/writing-centre
The Maynooth University Writing Centre offers free, friendly, non-judgemental writing help to any student, undergraduate or postgraduate, regardless, of course, degree or level. The support we offer is primarily through one-to-one appointments, where students can discuss their writing with peer/expert tutors. In addition, Writing Centre staff offer writing workshops, support writing groups, engage in discipline-specific work, and research in academic writing and related fields.
Maynooth Univerity Access Office https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/access-office
The Maynooth University Access Programme (MAP) encourages under-represented groups to enter third level and provides these groups with support through their time at Maynooth. These groups include under-represented school leavers, mature students, students with disabilities and members of the Irish Traveller community.
