Is Irish preschool (naionra) necessary before Irish primary (gaelscoil)

Killester123 · 12-12-2022 4:10am #1

Hello,

I would love some advice around sending our little girl to a gaelscoil without first having gone to a Naíonra?

We won’t have access to a Naíonra so it’s a worry of how easily will she settle into an Irish primary school when she’s used of going to an English speaking crèche and preschool.

Also, if we did find a Naíonra which had availability - are they offering full hours 9-5 Mon-Fri?

Thank you!!

12-12-2022 4:22am

Hi, my younger cousin is in a Gaelscoil. She did not attend an Irish speaking preschool or crèche. I suppose it would definitely offer an advantage but it’s not entirely necessary.

i doubt she’ll be the only junior infant who will start having not gone to an Irish speaking preschool or crèche anyway!

SuperBowserWorld · 12-12-2022 4:59am

No need at all.

They will pick up the language easily at that age in a gaelscoil.

Spear · 12-12-2022 9:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058275471/is-irish-preschool-naionra-necessary-before-irish-primary-gaelscoil

Confirm your email address so you can post properly, then I'll move this to a forum that's related to the topic instead.

Killester123 · 12-12-2022 11:49am

Great, thanks

deirdremf · 12-12-2022 2:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058275471/is-irish-preschool-naionra-necessary-before-irish-primary-gaelscoil

No need to do so, and they can't insist on it. As you say, very few naíonraí offer a full day service - sadly, they don't really cater for the single parent, or two working parent family.

Just put your child's name down for the local Gaelscoil. And if you know any Irish yourself, just by speaking to your daughter in Irish she'll have a better headstart than anyone from the creche which is very useful of course, but limited by the fact that the kids will normally speak English among themselves.

I've heard of Gaelscoileanna that give priority to Irish-speaking families, so if your child has Irish in the home you will be at the top of the queue.