New DEIS Measures to Strengthen Family Engagement and Student Wellbeing in Schools

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton has announced further measures under the DEIS Strategy to 2035 to support children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage through enhanced family engagement and wellbeing supports in schools.

As part of the measures, a new pilot initiative will extend the Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme to approximately 130 rural DEIS and non‑DEIS schools. This will allow the department to assess the effectiveness of the model across a broader range of school settings.

The pilot will include full‑time and shared HSCL coordinator posts, supporting schools to strengthen parental engagement and deepen collaboration between home, school and community. Schools participating in the initiative have now received details on recruitment arrangements for the new roles, which will be in place for the coming school year.

Announcing the measures, Minister Naughton said:

The HSCL pilot will run for an initial three-year period and will be subject to ongoing review and evaluation.

Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing coordinators are being assigned to 121 DEIS Plus schools. These coordinators will lead whole‑school and targeted approaches to mental health and wellbeing, supporting the implementation of structured, trauma‑informed and collaborative practices aligned with school improvement planning.

The new measures form part of the Government’s wider commitment under the DEIS Strategy to 2035 to improve educational outcomes, attendance, engagement and wellbeing for children and young people most at risk of disadvantage.

Further information is available at www.gov.ie/DEIS.

• Strengthen and support effective partnerships between schools, families and communities with the aim of improving educational outcomes for children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage
• Work directly with parents and guardians to support improved student attendance, participation, retention and wellbeing, and to strengthen engagement between home and school through ongoing communication, support and collaboration
• Support schools in developing inclusive, supportive and collaborative learning environments by encouraging and promoting meaningful parental involvement in students’ learning and broader school life
• Engage with students, families and school communities to help identify barriers affecting attendance, participation and engagement in education, and work collaboratively with school staff and relevant services to support appropriate responses and supports
• Liaise and collaborate with school leadership, teachers, educational support services and relevant community and statutory agencies to support the needs and wellbeing of children and young people
• Support schools in building stronger connections with local communities and services, including through shared and collaborative approaches where appropriate as part of the pilot initiative
• Contribute to the ongoing review and development of the pilot initiative through engagement with schools, families and local communities

• Lead the development and implementation of a whole-school approach to positive mental health and wellbeing
• Lead the integration of trauma-informed and relationship-based practices in the school
• Coordinate with community services to provide positive mental health and wellbeing supports for children and young people
• Build relationships with parents and families, with particular emphasis on those who may be marginalised or less engaged with school, in order to support student wellbeing

The positive mental health and wellbeing coordinator is a role for all 121 DEIS Plus schools. The list of these schools is available online at www.gov.ie/DEIS