Home School Community Liaison
(H.S.C.L. co-ordinator: Mr Enda Ward)
(H.S.C.L. co-ordinator: Mr Enda Ward)
Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Scheme
"The underlying policy of the Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Scheme is one that seeks to promote partnership between parents and teachers. The purpose of this partnership is to enhance pupils’ learning opportunities and to promote their retention in the education system. In addition, the HSCL Scheme places great emphasis on collaboration with the local community."
from "Vision to Best Practice", 2005.
As a DEIS 2 school, we have access to a Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) co-ordinator which is a full-time position. HSCL co-ordinators are released from all teaching duties and engage in full-time liaison work between the home, the school and the community.
Mr Enda Ward is our HSCL co-ordinator in St Mary's. This is a shared position; he also works with St John's N.S. in Longford Town.
Enda's main role is to work with you, the parents along with the teachers and the wider community to enhance your child’s learning opportunities and to promote attendance, participation and retention in school. This may involve visiting you in your home to work with you, help you and act as a support to you in whatever way he can around any issues that may impinge on your child’s attendance, participation and retention in school.
Together with the Principal and Deputy-Principal, Enda also links in and works with other key players both in the school and the local community, for example:
Class Teachers
Support Teachers
Special Needs Assistants
Pastoral Care Team
Discipline & Behaviour Support Team
Education Welfare Officer
School Completion Programme
Tusla Education Support Service
Barnardos
HSCL co-ordinators in Co. Longford
H.S.E. Services
SVP (St Vincent de Paul)
Focus Ireland
REALT
Community Gardaí
Juvenile Liaison Officer
We have a designated Parent's Room in our school where parents can meet with each other in a warm and welcoming environment. This room will also be used for various courses and activities for parents.
Enda looks forward to meeting and working with many parents throughout the school year. He can be contacted on either number below:
☎️ 043-6671750 (school landline)
📱 087-1719989 (school mobile)