The Education Inclusion Initiative (EII) is a two year pilot-project which services 17 schools in Dublin 8 and in Portlaoise. The EII aim is to support schools to develop more inclusion of families, particularly those from diverse ethnic, cultural and linguistic minority communities.

The schools participating in this Initiative are drawn from the Primary (11 schools) and Post- Primary (6 schools) sectors. In addition to families with an Irish cultural heritage, the schools include families from 44 different nationalities the most representative of which are Poland, the Philippines, Nigeria, Romania, Pakistan and Lithuania.

EII offers a translation and interpretation service to the participating schools to enhance communication with parents who may have limited English language proficiency. Networking between and among the participating schools is encouraged, this facilitates the sharing of good practice within the network. In addition, the schools concerned are provided with planning tools as well as teaching and learning resources so they have a greater ability to engage positively with diversity in their schools. The Initiative also sets out to strengthen the intercultural capacity of the schools concerned so that teachers and other staff are provided with the prerequisite knowledge, skills and values required to create a welcoming teaching and learning environment for all students and their families.

For communication purposes the ERI avails of existing localized support structures such as Principals’ and Home School Community Liaison Teachers’ groups. Two Field Officers from the EII visit the schools on a regular basis, to raise awareness to issues relating to cultural diversity, to identify needs and to monitor progress. The Initiative is being evaluated as part of a Doctoral Thesis Study. The EII is funded by the Christian Brothers and receives professional advice and support from Lóchrann, the Centre for Intercultural Education at Coláise Mhuire, Marino Institute of Education.