Applying for Irish exemption

taytay123

Has anyone applied recently and how did you get on. I moved my child from a Gaelscoil (4th class) due to dyslexia. She just met the criteria percentage wise on the psychologist report but it's the school's principal who has to perform their own tests and make the call. She's like a difference child in the new school. I haven't seen her so happy and relaxed and energetic since senior infants. I just thought she was an anxious child who got fatigued easily but clearly she was really suffering having to learn through a second language. There are lots of ex Gaelscoil children in the new school, mostly dyslexic and sadly the story is the same for all, the Gaelscoileanna didn't take the parents concerns seriously, didn't support the dyslexia well etc. I know the exemption has become a bit of a political issue now and it could be tricky to get. A lot of teachers have said it's worth it as Irish class is when learning support is provided in secondary school, it gives the student a break (dyslexic children have to work so much harder to keep up) etc. Has anyone been through the process recently since the criteria changed and how did you get on....and did it make a significant difference to the child. Thank you

treascon

My son finished up in primary school in June. Shortly before that he got his dyspraxia diagnosis. I met with the principal for something entirely separate and she was the one who asked me if we would like an Irish exemption. I got it there and then for him. He has recently gone into secondary school. We haven’t used the exemption yet, my son doesn’t even know about it. We want to see how he gets on but he wouldn’t be great at Irish anyway. So to answer your question we got it hassle free but I can’t answer about difference at this early stage.

taytay123

Ok that's good to know as there's a fear that they won't want to grant it if too many parents are looking for them as her scores are borderline. The school takes a lot of children who leave the Gaelscoil for literacy issues and I don't know how many of them apply for it. I would be the same if we got it, just would see how the Irish/foreign language was going and only use if it's all becoming overwhelming.

byhookorbycrook

I'm glad your girl is happier following her move, but I disagree with your comment that "d sadly the story is the same for all, the Gaelscoileanna didn't take the parents concerns seriously, didn't support the dyslexia well etc." Each school is different, imagine if someone posted "The Catholic/COI/ET schools instead? An exemption is granted on specified criteria, which must be met, not on the grounds of the number of parents seeking one for their child.

taytay123

I'm aware of the criteria and that it seems vague and that a principal could push out the time in between the two testing sessions.

finnyj

Having gone through this process twice with my two children (both dyslexic), the one bit of advice I can give you is....

GET AN INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL PHYSIOLOGICAL ASSESMENT

Not cheap but this report will stand to you in the coming years. There will be alot more to fight for in the years to come other than the Irish exemption and the independent report will be your drum that you can beat.

taytay123

Thanks I have an official dyslexia diagnosis report from a reputable educational psychologist but this no longer grants the exemption. The principal has to carry out testing twice once before and once after learning support so the exemption is subject to the result of their tests.