Free Summer Course 2026

1st -7th July 2026

The enjoyable way to earn your EPV days!

Free to all primary & special school teachers. Hosted by your local full time Education Support Centre. Approved and led by the Department of Education and Youth and ESCI under Creative Youth 2023-2027.

Teacher Artist Partnership+ (TAP+) is a creativity rich summer course that supports professional development through wellbeing, relationships and creative partnership for teachers and creative practitioners. Participants create, explore and collaborate to enhance creativity and arts in education through creative process, critical reflection, collaboration and enjoyment.

Apply for a free in-school TAP+ Residency for your students too!

During the summer course teachers will have the opportunity to apply for a TAP+ Residency to take place in partnership with a creative practitioner from their summer course and their students in the school year 2026/27. Each Education Support Centre will have 8 Residencies for participating teachers on the TAP+ Summer Course.  If you would like to apply for a TAP+ Residency, you will need to complete the TAP+ Summer Course in your school's full-time Education Support Centre's catchment area.

Teacher Artist Partnership+ Summer Course Aims:

• To support participants in planning, implementing, and assessing creativity rich experiences in partnership with children through curriculum and school policy.
• To enable participants to support children in developing creativity, voice and agency through TAP+.
• To highlight the potential of creative engagement in supporting and developing equality, diversity and inclusion in the school environment.
• To sustainably enhance the national programme of school-based creative learning by supporting teachers and creative practitioners to develop professional relationships, knowledge, and skills necessary to work in partnership with children.

Closing date for registration 19th June 2026

Summer Course Booking Policy
- Lunch will be provided daily.
- Our summer courses are booked on the condition that the course fee is non-refundable.
- Unfortunately, if you wish to cancel your place on one of our courses or are unable to attend the course, we are not in a position to refund fees.
- County Donegal Education Support Centre reserves the right to cancel a Summer Course where there are not sufficient numbers to run the course.
- In the event of the Centre having to cancel your course, you will be offered an alternative course or offered a full refund.
- In line with DES Circular 0037/1997, participants attending Summer Courses accrue entitlements as follows: 

• Full Attendance (20 Hours): 3 EPV Days
• 4 Days Attendance (16 Hours): 2 EPV Days
• No EPV days will be awarded for less than 4 days attendance 

Thank you for your continued support of the County Donegal Education Support Centre. 

Closing Date for Registration is Friday 19th June 2026