Is áit é Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Laoise ‘ina gcuirtear seirbhísí ar fáil do scoileanna, múinteoirí, tuismitheoirí, boird agus daoine ábhartha eile. Tugtar tacaíocht leis na seirbhísí seo do na daoine thuasluaite ionas gur féidir leo a gcuid feidhmeanna a dhéanamh maidir le hoideachas a chur ar fáil, atá aitheanta don aidhm sin ag an Aire’ (an tAcht Oideachais, 1998).

Tá an tIonad á mhaoiniú go díreach ag an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna (ROS) tríd an Rannóg um Oideachas Múinteoirí agus Beartas faoin bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta. Oibríonn an tIonad leis an ROS lena chinntiú gur féidir leo freastal ar riachtanais foghlaimeoirí, scoile agus chórais trí dheiseanna foghlama ardchaighdeáin a chur ar fáil. 

Áirítear i bpríomhghníomhaíochtaí Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Laoise clár áitiúil éagsúil a bhaineann le tacaíocht, oiliúint agus forbairt ghairmiúil a chur ar fáil do mhúinteoirí, bainistíocht scoile, tuismitheoirí agus baill phobail scoile mar fhreagra ar riachtanais agus éileamh. Cuimsítear sna gníomhaíochtaí freisin eagrúchán agus seachadadh áitiúil clár náisiúnta d’fhorbairt ghairmiúil agus phearsanta do mhúinteoirí ar son na Ranna Oideachais agus Scileanna. Oibríonn Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Laoise i gcomhar le comhpháirtithe éagsúla náisiúnta, réigiúnacha agus áitiúla chun tionscnaimh nuálacha a chur chun cinn ar mhaithe lena bpobail scoile.

Is comhlacht reachtúil neamhspleách é Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Laoise agus tá sé á bhainistiú ag Coiste Bainistíochta deonaí, a dhéantar a thoghadh gach bliain. Tá freagracht ag an ionad ar cheantar geografach ar leith. Oibríonn an tIonad go dlúth leis na 123 bunscoil agus na 31 iar-bhunscoil ina gceantar ina bhfuil thart ar 2,500 múinteoir ar an iomlán.

Is áis shaintógtha chomhaimseartha é Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Laoise, a bhfuil atmaisféar compordach agus fáilteach ann d’fhorbairt phearsanta agus ghairmiúil dár bpobail bhunscoile agus iar-bhunscoile.

Laois Education Support Centre is ‘a place in which services are provided for schools, teachers, parents, boards and other relevant persons which supports them in carrying out their functions in respect of the provision of education which is recognised for that purpose by the Minister’ (Education Act, 1998). 

The Centre is directly funded by the Department of Education & Skills (DES) through the Teacher Education & Policy Section under the National Development Plan. It works with the DES to ensure

That it can respond to learner, school and system requirements through the provision of high-quality learning opportunities.

The principal activities of Laois Education Support Centre include the delivery of a varied local programme of support, training and professional development for teachers, school management, parents and school community members in response to need and demand. Activities also include the organisation and local delivery of national programmes for teacher professional and personal development on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. Laois Education Support Centre works in collaboration with various national, regional and local partners to advance innovative initiatives for the benefit of its school communities.

Laois Education Support Centre is an independent statutory body and is managed by a voluntary Management Committee elected annually. It has a defined geographical area of responsibility. The Centre works closely with the 123 primary and 31 post primary schools in its catchment area with an overall teaching population of approximately 2,500.

Laois Education Support Centre is a modern purpose-built facility, providing a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for personal and professional development for our primary and post-primary school communities.