& Their Parents
BE INFORMED
Each school is free to develop
their own unique TY programme,
so it is important that you know
up front the specifics of your
school’s TY programme. Your
school will host an information
session for parents and it is at
this session that you will learn
about the programme specifics as
they pertain to your child. It is
important that you attend this
session so you are aware of how
the TY programme is
implemented in your school, what
the critical dates are and what
(and when) any payments may be
due. It’s also a good time to ask
questions!
The matter of costs has come up
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competitions and
programmes.
so often in the teacher tips that it
is worthy of special mention.
Much of the criticism of TY
involves financial “surprises”,
which can seem endless and ill-
timed. Teachers advise that you
introduce a visible diary for the
year ahead (for example; a year-
planner in the kitchen)
containing critical dates including
dates on which payments are due.
SET THE TONE AND OFFER
ENCOURAGEMENT
Parents yield significant sway
over their child’s attitude toward
school, and TY is no exception.
The advise from teachers is this;
Be enthusiastic about your child’s
TY. If you are negative about the
year,they will be too. TY is a
unique opportunity for teenagers
to explore their potential. To
make the most of what this year
has to offer, teachers advise
parents to encourage your child
to;
• Actively participate in as many
opportunities as the year offers
• Step out of their comfort zone
and try new things
• Volunteer, it builds confidence
& develops communication
skills
• Be pro- active
ON-GOING INVOLVEMENT
AND COMMUNICATION
Your on- going interest in the
programme is essential. Stay
informed about what is
happening in TY and be aware of
what your child is doing (or not
doing as the case may be).
Ask them what they’re involved in
on a weekly basis and, if the reply
is “nothing”, check with the
school. While TY does not have
the workload of Leaving Cert,
there is still work to be done.
Stay in touch with the
assignments that are due so that
your child develops the habit of
completing tasks and does not
“switch off” during the year.
WORK PLACEMENT
A core element of TY is the work
placement, and schools
implement this in a number of
different ways. On the face of it,
finding a work placement is a
relatively simple task with huge
reward, but this is a massive step
for a teenager.
Help your child identify and seek
a suitable work placement. Most
teenagers have no idea what they
want to do when they’re older,
and this is normal. The work
placement can be as beneficial in
identifying unsuitable careers as i
suitable ones. Beware that your
child’s uncertainty does not lead
to inactivity.
Use your own contacts / network
to find suitable placements. It is
easy to overlook just how far your
network extends.
Lastly, start looking early. The
process takes a long time,
certainly a lot longer than your
child assumes.
ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE
SCHOOL P ROGRAMME
With the best will in the world, no
school can realistically offer a TY
programme that is all things to
everyone. Understandably,
activities that are individual and
focused are sometimes forfeited
in favour of those with a wider
appeal and that cover more bases.
There are numerous
programmes, activities,
competitions and challenges that
do not form part of your school’s
TY offerings, but which may be
ideally suited to your child’s
specific interest.
The advice from our teachers;
Look for additional opportunities
outside of the school programme.
Your child may find something of
specific interest, and TY is about
making the most of every
opportunity.
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