The literacy support service of youngballymun, is one of six vital integrated services.  Supports to language and literacy are woven into each service. 

Write-Minded is aimed at children aged 4 to 18+ and their parents, and is provided across schools, community settings and education centres in Ballymun

The service was designed in close collaboration with the Ballymun primary and secondary schools, adult and community educators and education support agencies.  It complements and integrates with the work of the Department of Education’s DEIS initiative.

This literacy initiative provides age-appropriate supports to literacy development throughout the child/young person’s education.  The service engages with parents and families, provides teacher training, supports children’s move from primary to second schools and supports school attendance.

The service draws on local and national expertise, informed by international research.

As understood by the Service Design Team that developed Write-Minded, ‘literacy’ is a holistic concept that stretches far beyond reading and writing.

“Literacy involves the integration of listening, speaking, reading, writing and numeracy.  It also encompasses aspects of personal d3velopment – social, economic, emotional and is concerned with improving self-esteem and building confidence.” (National Adult Literacy Agency)

There are both in-school and community wide dimensions to the strategy.

The school strand includes teaching and learning activities at primary and second level aimed at:

• Oral language and literacy development
• Supporting the transition between primary and secondary school
• Teacher training and capacity building to support teachers to provide time, focus, and expert practice in the development of children’s literacy skills
• Promotion of improved punctuality, school attendance, and participation in learning.

The family and community strand of the strategy includes:

• Creating opportunities to include parents in activities within the school that support and enhance children’s literacy and learning
• Providing opportunities across the community for parents to participate in their children’s literacy and learning
• Promoting the vital role that adult and community education plays in family learning
• Raising the awareness across the community of the role the community, daily, and school can play in promoting children’s learning; children’s attendance in school; and making the transition to secondary school easier for young people to manage.

Some initiatives to date:

• In collaboration with the Primary Professional Development Service (PPDS), training has been delivered to primary school teachers in the First Steps approach to teaching reading and writing. The Dept. of Education and Science (DES) has nominated the First Steps approach to literacy development as the recommended approach for pupils and teachers in designated educationally disadvantaged schools.  We are currently offering the First Steps approach to Speaking and Listening.
• Workshops have been delivered to all primary schools on vocabulary development supported by a range of appropriate resource materials
• Parents have supported the vocabulary development of their children in a classroom based initiative delivered in association with the Home School Community Liaison personnel. These ‘games for fun’ sessions are ongoing.
• Storytime sessions to promote reading for pleasure have been enjoyed by many parents and young children in schools in the area in collaboration with Home School Community Liaison personnel.
• A comprehensive transition resource pack has been compiled in consultation with teachers, principals and school support services. This aims to prepare and support our 6th class pupils as they transfer to post-primary settings. This term the National Parents’ Council will deliver a parent module to further support these transitions. 
• As a follow-up to youngballymun’s mental health and well-being awareness week: “It’s good to talk”, Write-Minded in conjunction with Jigsaw service, will be supporting communication and vocabulary development with SPHE teachers in the local post-primary school.
• Write-Minded have met and consulted with a wide range of local services (e.g. Aisling Project, St. Margaret’s LTI, Fás CTC, Drop-in Well, and Ballymun Library) and helped to identify best practice in literacy development.

This radio episode was produced by the Errigal students of Trinity Comprehensive as part of their oral language and literacy programme, with the support of youngballymun’s Write-Minded, and as a follow-on to their use of the NBSS – ARROW teaching resource.  It includes an interview with a school band, local news, exam tips and favourite tunes.

Due to the success of this episode, we hope there will be more episodes to come, so enjoy and stay tuned to “Trinity FM”!!”

Listen to the Trinity FM Radio episode

For more information on Write Minded, please contact:

Write Minded Fact Sheet

Martina Gannon - Literacy Coordinator
Phone: 01 862 4564
Mobile: 087 6605354
Email: martina@youngballymun.org


Duana Quigley - Oral Language Development Officer
Phone: 01 862 4564
Mobile: 087 2616793
Email: duana@youngballymun.org