Schools serving communities with the highest levels of need are being asked to do something incredibly important: support attendance, wellbeing, achievement, inclusion and progression, often all at once. That is exactly why the Department’s new focus on DEIS+ matters so much.

DEIS+ is centred on the areas schools are dealing with every day: attendance, engagement and retention, student wellbeing, stronger leadership, access to support services and better progression pathways for young people. For school leaders, the challenge is not only to put supports in place, but to do so in a way that is structured, visible and measurable.

That is where Skilly can help.

Turning priorities into practice

Skilly gives DEIS+ schools a structured digital platform to support wellbeing, SPHE and student development in a way that is practical and consistent across classes and year groups.

It helps schools deliver high-quality learning experiences while also giving students the opportunity to reflect on their progress, build self-awareness and develop the personal skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

For schools working hard to improve attendance, engagement and student outcomes, this matters.

Helping schools deliver wellbeing with greater consistency

One of the biggest challenges for any school is ensuring that well-being and SPHE are delivered consistently and meaningfully. In DEIS+ schools, where student needs can be greater and staff are often balancing multiple priorities, consistency becomes even more important.

Skilly supports schools by providing structured learning pathways, ready-to-use content and reflective activities that help teachers deliver programmes with confidence. This makes it easier for schools to create a more joined-up approach to student support and personal development.

Giving students a stronger voice

A key strength of Skilly is that it creates space for the student voice.

Through guided self-reflection, students can reflect on their experiences, identify their strengths, recognise areas where they need support, and become more aware of their own growth. This is particularly valuable in DEIS+ settings, where building confidence, resilience and connection can have a significant impact on engagement and retention.

Reflection also helps students feel heard. It gives schools a better understanding of what students are experiencing and where support may be needed.

Supporting early intervention

In many DEIS+ schools, staff work tirelessly to identify students who may be disengaging, losing confidence or facing challenges outside the classroom. The earlier those concerns are noticed, the better.

Skilly can support this work by helping schools track student engagement and reflective activity over time. This gives teachers, year heads, guidance staff and school leaders a clearer picture of participation and progress, helping them make informed decisions and respond earlier where appropriate.

Technology should never replace relationships in schools, but it can strengthen them by helping staff notice more and act sooner.

Making progress more visible

Schools are increasingly expected to show the impact of the work they are doing. That includes wellbeing, student engagement and personal development, not just academic attainment.

Skilly helps make this progress more visible. It enables schools to gather meaningful evidence of participation, reflection and development in one place. This can support planning, review and whole-school improvement, while also helping schools to see what is working well and where further support may be needed.

A practical support for DEIS+ schools

DEIS+ schools are already doing powerful and important work every day. What many need is not more pressure, but better tools to support the work already taking place.

Skilly helps schools move from good intentions to structured practice. It supports the delivery of wellbeing and SPHE, strengthens student voice, helps track engagement and gives school teams better visibility of student development.

For DEIS+ schools focused on attendance, wellbeing, engagement and progression, Skilly can be a valuable part of that journey.

Final thought

DEIS+ represents an important opportunity for schools to strengthen support for the students who need it most. With the right systems in place, schools can build a more connected, reflective and supportive learning environment.

Skilly is designed to help make that possible.