Pre School/Primary Schools

MaryChill

Hello,
I have a 2 and 1 year old that I need to sign up to schools. I want them to go co-ed. Do I need them to go to a particular preschool to feed into a primary? Any good primary schools anyone can recommend? I want them within a responsible distance of St Vincents Hospital. We're renting currently.

Lady_North1

Primary schools do not have feeder preschools. You'd need to check the individual enrolment policies of the local schools to see how you need to go about enrolling. Most schools have a catchment area which will determine where your child can go. You'll need to check with the schools to see if you're in their area.

Can't help with schools themselves as I'm not from that area. Good luck with your search.

GalwayGrrrrrl

Our primary does have a feeder pre-school- some of the gaelscoils in Galway do. It's really hard to get a place in those gaelscoils unless you have an older sibling in the school or have attended the Naoinra attached to the school. The Naoinra starts at age 3.
Sorry I can't help with your particular circumstance MaryChill but you are right to look out for relevant feeder preschools.

Moonbeam

I think it only applies to a few Gaelscoileanna and is not a general thing.
I would put their names down in every school that might be an option as at 2 it will be hard to get a space in some schools.
Do you want a catholic school?

lazygal

Our local gaelscoil is extremely selective too, you either have to have a sibling in the school or attend a list of preschools that teach Irish. I don't like the gaelscoil approach anyway, but what really put me off was that some of the preschools don't take part in the ECCE scheme which seems very unfair, as you'd have to pay for preschool just to have a chance of a place in a primary school.

Moonbeam

That is awful:(

The Naíonra is in our school but access to the primary school is siblings 1st then 1st come 1st served.

lazygal

I found out from a parent last year only three places out of 30 for JI went to children who didn't have siblings in the school or hadn't attended an approved preschool. There were over 100 applicants for those three places. Very unfair to parents who are new to the area or move over the summer.

Moonbeam

We moved when the eldest was 12 months so we didn't get a place in JI but the others will all get one:)
There are 62 places in our school and rumor had it last year there were 54 siblings.

silverharp

there might be a new educate together school opening in sandymount in a couple of years. not sure of the details though. the dept of ed. have bought the Rehab site there