FULL - Empowering Early Literacy: Science of Reading, UFLI & AI Tools - Inclusive, Play-Based and Evidence-Informed Teaching

8 Hours live online - 12 Hours online self paced

SET - Supporting Diverse Learners: Inclusive Practice for Mainstream and SET

8 Hours live online - 12 Hours online self paced

School Leaders & Aspiring Leaders-Digital Tools & AI for Effective School Leadership

8 Hours live online - 12 Hours online self paced

If you are already in School Leadership or are aspiring to Leadership, this course is for you.

We will explore how to 

• Strengthen leadership and management through digital tools. 

• Enhance collaboration, communication, and efficiency across the school. 

• Use AI tools like ChatGPT and Goblin Tools to streamline tasks and support data-driven decisions. 

• Integrate digital resources for effective planning, assessment, and school self-evaluation. 

• Promote digital citizenship and ensure online safety through a whole-school approach. 

• Create and organise key leadership resources using tools like Wakelet, Padlet, Canva, and Google Workspace. 
• Align their leadership vision with national frameworks, including the Digital Strategy for Schools 2027 and the Digital Learning Framework.

Through interactive sessions and practical activities, participants will gain the skills, confidence, and digital mindset needed to lead learning, drive innovation, and shape a future-ready school community. 

STEM Through Playful Learning - Practical Approaches for the New Curriculum

8 Hours live online - 12 Hours online self paced

Practical Activities and Ready-to-Use Resources to Engage Every Classroom 

In advance of the new STEM learning curriculum’s introduction, this hands-on and practical blended learning course offers teachers and educators a wide range of stimulating, engaging and simple activities for use in all classroom settings and across all age ranges and interests.   
Drawing the four key learning areas together, the course will leave teachers confident and reassured in their implementation of the 21st century learning skills central to the new curriculum and essential in the lives of the students we teach.  

Designed and facilitated by Colm O’Callaghan, the course aims to empower teachers to use the world around them and the resources readily available to them, so that STEM learning is a part of the classroom’s culture and the school’s emerging tradition. 

Enhancing Wellbeing Through Yoga & Other Self Care Practices

Family Resource Centre, Enniscrone (F26 V5T8)

Teachers are pivotal in fostering wellbeing among children and youth through diverse approaches. 

Yoga, an innovative method, empowers children with self-care skills, enhancing overall wellbeing. 

This Summer course provides teachers with the tools to integrate yoga and mindfulness into their lives, delivering objective-based practices within SPHE and PE. Practical ideas, activities, and resources will nurture both teacher and student wellbeing within schools. 

Participants will delve into yoga and the Enneagram, a transformative psychological tool, deepening their understanding of human behaviour and classroom dynamics. 

Mindful, Sensory and Creative Activities for Learners with SEN

Holy Family N.S. Tubbercurry

FULL - Autism Classroom- Practical Strategies for Teaching & Learning in an Autism Classroom

8 Hours live online - 12 Hours online self paced

This practical Summer course, facilitated by  Jessie Kelly (inspired_by_autism) equips teachers with effective, classroom-ready strategies to support autistic students in a structured, inclusive, and supportive environment.

• Participants will explore how to build positive, trusting relationships and understand individual student needs, while creating clear, predictable, and flexible routines that support regulation, reduce anxiety, and promote engagement.
• The course introduces a Total Communication approach, including the use of AAC tools such as TD Snap and Grid for iPad, along with practical ways to model communication and embed visual supports into everyday classroom practice.
• Teachers will also learn to understand regulation and reframe behaviour as communication, using proactive strategies to support self-regulation, independence, and meaningful participation in learning.
• In addition, participants will be guided in using practical assessment approaches and developing personalised Student Support Plans (SSPs), as well as working effectively with SNAs and the wider school team to ensure consistent support for students. Ideal for teachers seeking clear, practical strategies that can be implemented immediately in the autism classroom.
  
                                                                                                  
  

Art in the Outdoors - Arts Based Environmental Education

Grange National School

This Summer course offers teachers a practical introduction to arts-based environmental education, fostering integrated, engaging, and lasting lessons on biodiversity and the natural world. 

Equipping educators with innovative ideas and skills, it enables the implementation of creative activities within and beyond classrooms. Aligned with the SESE and Visual Arts curriculum, it also connects with Green Schools programs and sustainability education. 

Participants will receive a comprehensive toolkit for outdoor teaching, particularly within school grounds, emphasizing biodiversity and environmental concepts. Integrating visual arts with science, history, literacy, and environmental studies, it encourages theme-based learning through artistic expression. 

The course employs active learning methods, combining classroom and outdoor experiential activities, including local field trips. 

Teacher Artist Partnership+ for enhancing Creativity and Arts in Education in Ireland

Sligo Education Centre

Digital Innovation with LEGO Spike, Bee-Bots & AI

Sligo Education Centre

This practical, classroom-focused Summer Course immerses teachers in 21st-century teaching and learning, with a strong emphasis on resources that can be easily and immediately transferred into everyday classroom practice. The course explores the use of LEGO Spike Essential, Bee-Bots, and introductory aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop pupils’ computational thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. 

Participants will work hands-on with a wide range of ready-to-use, curriculum-aligned resources and activities, gaining clear guidance on how to integrate them meaningfully across subject areas. The course introduces the fundamentals of AI in education, showing how AI can support personalised, inclusive learning and help meet diverse learning needs in practical, age-appropriate ways. 

Additional key areas include digital citizenship and online safety, sourcing and selecting high-quality digital content, and practical exploration of the Digital Learning Framework. Teachers will leave with confidence, concrete lesson ideas, and adaptable resources they can bring straight back to their classrooms. 

The LEGO Spike used during the week will be available free of charge to Sligo schools for the following year, on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Exploring Local History - Interactive Site Visits, Digital Resources, and Practical Pedagogies for Immediate Classroom Use

Sligo Education Centre

This engaging Summer Course invites participants to explore the political, cultural, social, and economic history of County Sligo through a hands-on, interactive approach.  

Blending fieldwork, digital technology, and collaborative project-based learning, the course examines the people, places, and events that shaped both local and national identity.  

Participants will take part in guided field trips, including a walking tour of Sligo, a visit to the Armada shipwreck site at Streedagh Beach, and exploration of Ireland’s oldest megalithic tombs at Carrowmore.  

The course equips teachers with practical knowledge, resources, and methodologies to inspire students and foster a deeper connection with local heritage—ideal for anyone passionate about Sligo’s rich past. 

Chess for Social & Cognitive Skills - Ficheall Network

Sligo Education Centre

Chess for Social & Cognitive Skills is like no other summer course as it is extremely hands-on and teacher-centred. 

Chess is a growing pastime in Irish primary schools with 1 in every 5 primary schools now joined the Ficheall network.

It is an excellent extension to teaching the SPHE curriculum from 1st-6th class as well as being a fun hobby for students (and teachers) for rainy days.

It promotes a variety of social and cognitive skills such as respect, forward planning, problem solving, decision making, accepting defeat, understanding resilience and developing a productive disposition to problem solving; all of which are addressed in the free beginner lessons available to participants.

The course is excellent preparation for teachers looking to teach chess to children in 2026/2027 and register for the one-day fun-and-friendly, meet-and-greet, non-competitive Féile Fichille events. 

Digital Citizenship in the Classroom

St. Edward's National School

Teaching Primary PE Through Squash & Racket Skills

Sligo Tennis Club

Simple, practical ideas for every teacher. No prior experience needed 
An engaging, practical course exploring how squash skills and racket sports more broadly, can be used within the primary P.E. curriculum to support children’s physical, social, and motor development. 

Designed by teachers in collaboration with Irish Squash, the course reflects international best practice and is packed with hands-on activities, teaching strategies, and practical ideas for the classroom. Participants receive access to a comprehensive resource pack and clear planning guidance. 

No prior knowledge of squash is required. Squash equipment used during the week will be available free of charge to Sligo schools for the following year, on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Gaeilge Caint, Comhrá agus Craic

Sligo

€50  Refundable on completion of course

Improve your Gaeilge in a fun and relaxed environment!

• Is your Gaeilge rusty? An bhfuil meirg ar do chuid Gaeilge?
• Lacking confidence i nGaeilge? Easpa muiníne as do chuid Gaeilge?  
• Returning to mainstream teaching? Ag filleadh ar rang príomhsrutha?
• Returning to Ireland after time abroad? Ag filleadh ar an seomra ranga tar éis bheith thar lear?
• Then this course is for you! Is duitse an cúrsa seo!

Return to school in September with:

• Níos mo muiníne i labhairt na Gaeilge - More confidence speaking as Gaeilge
• Acmhainní teagaisc don seomra ranga - Teaching resources for the classroom
• Gníomhachtaí samplacha - Sample classroom activities
• Borradh nua faoi do theagasc sa Ghaeilge - A renewed energy for teaching Gaeilge

*Má tá Gaeilge líofa agat, ní duitse an cúrsa seo - If you have fluent Irish, this course is not for you!

Course developed by COGG, in collaboration with ESCI

Gaelic Games: Leading Gaelic Games in Primary Schools

This is a blended course using the Association's new Learning and Development Community Portal (TOBAR).
Face to Face (8 hours) - Sligo July 2nd & 3rd - 9.30am - 2pm

This course will develop teachers’ knowledge and skill in the teaching of Gaelic Games in the primary school, focusing in particular on coaching, coaching skills, managing and planning coaching programmes, including those that involve the participation of visiting coaches.

Modules will include physical literacy and movement skill development, the teacher as coach, the social context of Gaelic Games in schools and whole-school planning, and effective use of teaching and other resources.

Participants will be enabled to:

• Understand the Role of Gaelic games Coaching in the Primary School
• Develop Physical Education within the School Plan
• Develop a detailed program of Gaelic games coaching at all levels in the school
• Develop movement skills of children and apply the skills to games
• Design an inclusive Gaelic games policy for their school
• Use the resources of the Gaelic Games organisations to assist in the physical and mental development of their pupils