In our school we practice full early-immersion education. This means that we delay the introduction of the teaching of English until the second term in Senior Infants. This ensures that Irish becomes the language of communication in the school at an early stage. And also ensures, in a sensitive manner, that the children have enough competency in the language to be able to contend with other curricular areas, and thus achieve their potential.

Through this process the child acquires enough spoken Irish to learn pre-literacy skills through Irish, which are then translated into English during the formal teaching of English. Translating literacy skills from the minor language (Irish) to the majority language (English) allows for better competency of both languages than if the child were to begin with English and transfer to Irish.

We understand that different parents have different levels of Irish, but we would ask that parents use as much Irish as they can around the school, if even just “Go raibh maith agat/Slán”. This helps the child understand that there is a connection between the school and home and that there is a respect for the language at home.