Naíscoil Dhún Pádraig

Public benefits

Naíscoil Dhún Padraig provides pre-school education to children from Downpatrick. The Naíscoil provides a wide range of learning experiences includingcreative, intellectual, physical, social, emotional and personal. All the activities in the Naíscoil are play based. The school role-book includes a number of children super output areas of

Ballymote and Cathedral wards, areas of noted high level of disadvantage. The Naíscoil offers them an opportunity to escape from disadvantage and develop greater self- esteem. It is open to children from all sections of the community and to all races, and to children of all religions and none. The Naíscoil provides inclusivity and diversity for the children. The children learn the values of cultural diversity and bilingulism. The Naíscoil has made a number of referrals to speech and language therapists, health visitors and social services and have worked in conjunction with these professionals whilst the child has attended the Naíscoil. Most of the children come from English speaking families. Practically all subsequently choose to continue their children’s education through the medium of Irish. The Naíscoil provides a valuable opportunity for families to interface with the Irish language before making a decision on whether not Irish medium education is right for their child. The committee members of Naíscoil Dhún Pádraig hold their positions on a voluntary and none accrue any private benefit from the project. Apart from the three staff who are given a weekly wage for their work, no other person accrues any private benefit. The Naíscoil is a pre-school play group with no religious or political affiliations. As such it poses no harm or threat to the community or anybody within the community. Naíscoil Dhún Pádraig operates a policy of best practice. There is a plethora of international research that illustrates the benefits of bilingualism. There are currently 35 children attending the Naíscoil, including four children with special needs and eight from areas of high deprivation. The Naíscoil is managed according to best practice. It is regularly inspected by the Department of Education and Social Services, who comment on progress and offer advice for improvement. We were inspected by the Early Years Team, South Eastern Health and Care Trust on 10/3/15. The inspector was Maura Magorrian. Quality Area Inspected was: Quality of Staffing, Management and Leadership. The inspector noted that the leader, staff team and management committee have been proactive in assessing and evaluating the provision and have worked diligently to ensure compliance with the Minimum standards as evidenced in the inspection. The inspector described “a relaxed, yet busy atmosphere within the group, and the children appeared comfortable and confident in their surroundings. It was evident that good boundaries and routines are in place for the children, and this was enhanced by the layout of the room and the careful planning that was in place.” On the day of the inspection children were observed taking part in a range of activities which included free play, story and rhyme time, outdoor play, etc. Children played happily and interacted well with one another.

What your organisation does

Naíscoil Dhún Padraig provides pre-school educatopn through the medium of Irish.