Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to speak Irish to send my child to Scoil na Seolta??
No. You don’t need to be fluent in Irish, or even to speak Irish at all, for your child/ren to attend the Naíscoil or the Bunscoil. Many parents who have children in Irish-medium education have very little or no Irish. For parents who are interested in learning Irish, having a child at an Irish-medium school is a good way to learn a little bit of the language yourself. But whatever your own experience of Irish, we will provide resources to help you support your child's language journey.
What are the benefits of a bilingual education?
A bilingual education gives your child the gift of two languages. Research points to the idea that having two languages from an early age helps cognitive and academic development, as well helping the development of empathy, creativity and flexible thinking.
Is my child too young to learn another language?
The earlier a child learns a new language the better. 3 years old is an ideal time to start, as that is when the foundations for attitudes, thinking, and learning are laid down. Read more about the best age for kids to learn a second language.
Can I send my child to P1 if they didn’t attend the preschool?
Yes! Your Primary 1 child will pick up Irish very quickly in our immersive setting. Prior Naíscoil attendance would be helpful, but is by no means necessary.
Aren't most Irish-medium schools integrated?
Most Irish-medium schools are non-denominational and they accept children of all faiths and none. Scoil na Seolta is different because we have chosen to adopt an integrated ethos. So rather than leaving intake to chance, Scoil na Seolta will actively work to ensure that it has a balance of children from Catholic, Protestant and other backgrounds. Our aim is to bring children and families of different cultural traditions together, and to promote inclusion and diversity.
Where is Scoil na Seolta?
Naíscoil na Seolta is currently based in Garnerville Presbyterian Church in east Belfast.
We will be moving to our own purpose-built site in September 2024, which is centrally located in east Belfast. Please do drop us a line if you would like more details.
How can I learn Irish as a parent?
Adult Irish classes are available across Belfast, including at Turas on the Newtownards Road and various other locations, including, at present, online. All levels of Irish classes are available, from total beginners up to GCSE and beyond. A range of musical and cultural activities are also available, from choirs, to tours, to talks to conversation evenings. You are warmly invited to come and join us for events or even to pop in to say hello and find out more.
Who funds you?
We were fortunate to receive £73,000 seed funding from Foras na Gaeilge. This is an all-island body for the promotion of the Irish language. Foras na Gaeilge's budget is made up of public money from both jurisdictions - 75% from the Southern jurisdiction and 25% from the Northern Ireland Executive. All funding decisions and minutes of board meetings are available on their website. We supplement this income with donations for learning resources.
Currently we run sessions for pre-preschool children with paid places for 16 children.
We also offer 16 places for preschool which are fully funded funded by the Education Authority’s Pre-school Education Programme.