Good discussion today with expert panel on plans for implementation of their “Fair Start” report recommendations to tackle education underachievement. The Executive has endorsed their report on this key issue.

Delighted to welcome Minister Michelle McIlveen visit 2 ‘Moving On’ transition prog Spectrum Centre Shankill Zone Shankill ISCYP :100
young people preparing 4 ‘big school’ in week long summer school Education NI Education Authority Belfast Boys' Model Girls' Model Belfast Hazelwood Integrated College

Huge shout out to Gerard McC for everything you’re doing for my boy at Millennium IPS summer scheme. You’re amazing and my ❤️ is full. Education Authority

Delighted to see the summer schemes starting to roll out within schools! Great opportunity to have some fun together after such a ‘strange’ year!

@lovetennisni Mark Browne @michaelallen27 Koulla Yiasouma 🌈 🍦 Bronagh Byrne Laura Lundy Dr. Victoria Graf Tony Gallagher Gavin Duffy Renaissance UK & Ireland WISH CHARTER SCHOOL Accelerated Reader & Freckle in Ireland Niall McDermott Frances Kingston @Margaret Allen @sophlearn myON by Renaissance NI Commissioner for Children and Young People @peterweirmla Education Authority Dale Hanna Dale Heaney Adam Fleming Dino Sofos 👍 the power of learning a second language especially in primary school 🙂

StRonansPS @michaelallen27 Koulla Yiasouma 🌈 🍦 Bronagh Byrne Laura Lundy Dr. Victoria Graf Tony Gallagher Gavin Duffy Renaissance UK & Ireland WISH CHARTER SCHOOL Accelerated Reader & Freckle in Ireland Niall McDermott Frances Kingston @Margaret Allen @sophlearn myON by Renaissance NI Commissioner for Children and Young People @peterweirmla Education Authority Dale Hanna Dale Heaney Adam Fleming Dino Sofos I had another go (based on YouTube links sent by colleagues). Not sure if it’s any better! 🙄

I honestly believe the best, and safest, place for all our children at the moment is at school. I have made this very clear recently. The benefits, in terms of their mental health, social development & education, are very significant.

Parents have had to make big sacrifices throughout COVID-19 & this is sometimes not fully recognised. During #ParentingWeek I want to clearly acknowledge they’ve been amazing👍

Great article on our Maths & English GCSE Support Facebook pages - links included so have a look & #KeepLearning ⁦Angie Mervyn⁩ ⁦Cllr Geraldine McAteer.⁩ ⁦Dale Heaney⁩ ⁦Education NI⁩⁩ ⁦@peterweirmla⁩ ⁦Peter Finn⁩ belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-n…

Great that you got these out today Angie - prior to the school closures. The kids can use these at home with parents Paul Maskey Fáilte Feirste Thiar

Great to see young people in the Spectrum Centre Shankill Zone receiving socially distanced Maths GCSE supports through our Belfast City Council GCSE Supports contract. A fab city wide partnership with @EastSide_Learn @BELFASTSOUTH1 @SouthBelfastPB Greater Shankill & colleagues in North Belfast

We met with the DE Panel on Educational Underachievement.We raised the importance of sustainable parental engagement programmes& its lasting impact on school,family lives, health, community, education & economy. In addition the immense impact of Sure Start for early intervention.

There is one week remaining to submit your views to the Expert Panel on Educational Underachievement. Access the survey here bit.ly/3l4ayMt

We're revising and updating our Evidence Summary with more research relating to Educational Underachievement in Northern Ireland. There's a lot out there, and a lot of connections to be made...

The Expert Panel on Educational Underachievement wants your views and evidence on the links between educational underachievement and social disadvantage. Access the survey here bit.ly/3l4ayMt

I’m looking forward to presenting evidence on behalf of school leaders to the Education NI DE Expert Panel this afternoon.

I’m praying that this time we make progress on underachievement, but it’s going to take significant joined-up thinking in government.

The Education NI information leaflet for parents and carers, which contains advice on what to to if a child or anyone they live with develops symptoms of Covid-19, is also available in additional languages bit.ly/33aOcCM

On his third visit today the Minister met with Cookstown High School Principal Gwyneth Evans, staff and Chair of Board of Governors Lynne Dripps to discuss the school’s future requirements.

In the last of a busy day of engagements, Education Minister Peter Weir held his first outdoor meeting with Carrickfergus Model Principal Jenni Miller in the school's outdoor learning area. Issues discussed included infrastructure and school restart.

In pictures: Education Minister Peter Weir and First Minister Arlene Foster at Dungannon Primary School to launch the £11.2m Engage programme which will provide additional teaching support for pupils across Northern Ireland. bit.ly/2G0YOuW The Executive Office