Advice for Chosing Primary for Child Please

ytareh

Hi we have our first child due to be signed up fairly soon I guess.She has just turned 3 last week so she would be either 4 years and 4 months or 5 years and 4 months starting in September presumably....which would you recommend ?(I know ALL parents think this but she REALLY is VERY intelligent and big enough for her age .)
We can chose from the 'standard' local primary or a Gaelscoil which are both under 5 minutes drive away -or a 20 minute walk .There's an Educate Together which would be 10 or 15 minutes drive away .And a tiny non denominational one also -all are mixed sex...
Now the 'standard' primaries seem to be VERY good/nice and well run .I think ,speaking as a teacher, you can tell pretty much most of what you need to know by passing the school gates at quitting time ...Needless to say the Gaelscoil has a TOP reputation but Im a bit concerned that it would be a bit 'harsh' to 'immerse' my little one in Irish like that ...silly I know .She seems to love Irish and is lapping it up in Pre/Play School but I am just slightly sensitive to the fact that her mum is English (Im Irish).Any thoughts?Thanks.

byhookorbycrook

Best to make an appt. to visit all the schools ,you will get an idea of what they are like on a single visit. If you can time it to just before the children going home ,you might like to chat to few parents too.

I would check what the enrolement policy is in each school and get the name down asap, Gaelscoileanna and ET schools mostly seem to be first come ,first served.

As to it being "harsh" to immerse her in a second language, children do not see language as we do and pick it up like sponges.Her mum being English will have no bearing, the majority of parents with children in a Gaelscoil have little or no Irish.


PS,all primary schools under the DES have to be some or multi-denominational.

mikemac

Young children can easily learn new languages.
At some stage, you'll see children being able to count from 1-10 in Irish before they can do it in English. And probably know more Irish then English. They lap it up like sponges as byhookorbycrook posted. It certainly isn't strange to see children picking up Irish faster then English

So the Gaelscoil could be an option. But make an appointment to meet each of the principals this month.
Your wife being English won't slow your child learning. Bring your wife with you and get a tour of the place.

overmantle

Generally speaking, since you've said that the standard school seems to be 'very good/nice and well run' then you probably won't go far wrong there. If it is also where many of the other children will be attending, then it would most likely be a wise choice. I am not excluding any of the others as I don't know the scghools you are referring to but just offering a general opinion. My own four went to the 'standad' schools and we were/are very happy.

Geog

I WENT TO SCHOOL ON MY 4TH BIRTHDAY AND IT NEVER AFFECTED ME.

byhookorbycrook

I started at 3.5 but things have changed!