FAQ's

1. What are the teaching positions that are recognised for the purposes of probation?
2. What are the teaching positions that are not recognised for the purposes of probation?
3. What teaching service will be recognised towards the 100 days’ service requirement for probation?
4. What teaching service will not be recognised towards the 100 days’ service requirement for probation?
5. How long do I have to complete probation from the date I register with the Teaching Council?
6. Who is responsible for keeping a record of the teacher’s service?
7. Following the successful completion of the professional competence and the service aspects of probation, what must a teacher do to become fully registered with the Teaching Council?
8. What is the situation where a teacher is in a mainstream class for one visit and in a resource or special post for the second visit?
9. How long do I have to complete my termly plans?
10. What guidance has been given on planning to probationary teachers?
11. Do you apply to Limerick Education Centre for inspection visits using form OP1, even though you may only have a month’s work?
12. Is participation in the National Induction Programme for Teachers compulsory for teachers on probation? 
13. Can a newly qualified teacher apply for professional competence visits if they are employed as a full-time shared resource teacher?
14. Can a newly qualified teacher apply for professional competence visits if they are employed on a part-time basis in a number of schools?
15. May a newly qualified teacher opt out of probation for a year?
16. If an NQT is subbing from school to school, should he/she inform Limerick Education Centre each time he/she moves school?
17. If an NQT is teaching in a resource position can they be fully probated and subsequently be granted full registration by the Teaching Council if they teach Irish to a mainstream class during the probationary period?
18. In the case of an NQT who had begun the probationary process in 2010/11 and had a first inspection visit, will the process start again from the beginning in the new school year, i.e. service requirement and professional competence requirement?
19. Can an NQT teaching in an autism unit, qualified in abroad, and completing the SCG be probated in restricted setting?
20. Will the board of management get a copy of the Statement of Competence or the written inspection report?
21. Can an NQT be probated when teaching in a mixture of Learning-Support and resource?
22. Can a teacher in resource be probated by ‘borrowing’ a mainstream class for their incidental visits?
23. What happens where the inspector has recommended that the NQT needs more time to develop and demonstrate his/her teaching skills? Does the process start all over again?
24. Can I expect to receive a visit during the first period of 50 days?
25. If my first visit does not go well and I really improve by the second visit could I then receive an overall satisfactory rating?
26. I sat my exams in May but did not get my results until September – does the subbing I did in June count towards service requirement?
27. When is a teacher deemed qualified?
28. If I move to a new school/class in term two/three should my planning folder contain long/short term plans from term one?
29. When the inspector visits, is it in order to have my mentor sit in on the feedback session?
30. If I cannot attend induction workshops as I am currently completing my 4th year in Froebel/Marino/COI, will this affect my probation?
31. If I get probated in a resource teaching setting this year and do not transfer to mainstream for a few years, is it possible then to apply for my supplementary visit? Is there a time-frame on this?
32. Is the same amount of planning required for a teacher who has been probated in resource and is now in mainstream and applying for a supplementary visit?
33. Do you have to register when you qualify from College or can you travel for a year or two and then register?
34. If my first visit from the inspector is in the restricted setting and my second in the mainstream setting - will I be fully probated or have restricted recognition?
35. If I am teaching in a teaching position recognised for probationary purposes and have not applied to Limerick Education Centre for inspection visits, can this time count towards the service requirement?
36. If an NQT through no fault of his/her own runs over the 3 year time span to be probated, what happens then?
37. From when does the 3 year probationary time frame start? Is it from the day you start in a probationary position?
38. If you are in a Language Support post for a year, does that count towards the 3 year timeframe?
39. Can an NQT job-share in his/her probationary year?
40. I have completed my probation.  What next?