Frequently Asked Questions
How will I know if my child has a specific learning difficulty?
You may be worried that your child is falling behind in literacy. You may have a child who seems to forget things easily, gets very frustrated when they can't remember spellings or tables or who appears to be "lazy" or "dreamy". Homework may have become a battlefield. The only way to know for sure is to have your child assessed by an Educational Psychologist.
What should I do?
If you feel your child is having difficulties, speak to your child's class teacher, special needs teacher and the school Principal. If necessary, arrangements will be made for your child to be assessed by an Educational Psychologist. This can be arranged through the school, but remember school based assessments are very scarce, so some parents decide to have their child assessed privately. Your child CANNOT be admitted to St. Oliver Plunkett without the recommendation of a psychologist.
How do I apply for a place in St. Oliver Plunkett NS?
- • Decide with your child's school if you, or the school, are going to make the application. It won't affect your application whichever you decide on.
- • Ensure that your child's report is not more than two years old on the September of the year that you are making the application in.
- • Send a copy of your child's report to the school. Please ensure that you send your contact details with the application, especially an up to date telephone number.
- • Please ensure that the application is made before the end of January of the year you wish your child to start their placement.
- • Your application will be acknowledged by post.
- • Decisions are made around March
- • Contact will be made with your child's school as part of the admissions procedure.
- • Parents and schools are contacted with the decision of the admissions board.
- • Parents of successful applicants get a chance to meet the principal.
- • Children come to an open day where they get a chance to see the school and are assessed to ensure accurate class placement.
- • Parents and children get a chance to meet current children at a social evening before the end of the year.
What children are eligible for enrolment in St Oliver Plunkett NS?
Children are admitted to St Oliver Plunkett NS following an educational psychological assessment. Applications are made by the psychologist, the school or the parent/guardian of the child to St. Oliver Plunkett.
Enrolment is strictly adhered to as detailed in the enrolment policy. At the moment we have more candidates for enrolment than places.
The child must
- • Be aged between 8-12
- • Have a specific reading difficulty diagnosed by an Educational Psychologist.
- • Have average/above average intelligence
Is St Oliver Plunkett a Catholic school?
St Oliver Plunkett NS is a catholic school but children of all religions and none are welcome here.
What is your success rate?
We give no guarantees but children greatly benefit from their placement. Research shows that children are very happy in a specialised school setting like this and they regularly say things like, "I always thought I was the only one who found it difficult to read" and "I don't feel stupid now". .
What is the school day like and when is the school open?
School opens from 9.00am to 2.40pm each day and is open for the normal school year. The full range of subjects as outlined in the Curriculum for Primary Schools are taught to the children. However, special emphasis is placed on the teaching of reading, writing & spelling as well as the development of good oral language skills.
The children spend approximately 2 hours each day on these subjects. A speech and language therapist works in the classes with the children and also withdraws individual children for specific language work. One hour is spent in the study of Mathematics. The following subject areas are studied during the remaining time: History, Geography, Science, Religion, Visual Arts, Music, Drama, SPHE and PE which includes a compulsory weekly swimming lesson.
The school follows the standardised school year as laid down by The Department of Education and Science. Parents will be notified of closings for the school year at the beginning of September. A detailed calendar is sent home every month.
Will my child study Irish in St. Oliver Plunkett NS?
Your child will be exposed to oral Irish during their time with us but no reading or writing. Applications for an Irish Exemption can be made through the school. Applications will need to be made in writing. Applications cannot be considered if your child's report is more than two years old. Remember an exemption is not exclusion and there will be no barrier to your child taking up Irish at a later point in their school life.
How many staff in the school?
- In the school year 2011-2012 there was:
- An Administrative Principal
- 7 Class Teachers
- A Speech & Language Therapist
- 4 Special Needs Assistants
- A full time School Secretary
- A part-time caretaker
- A part-time specialist teacher (Music)
Is there much communication between school and home?
As part of the ethos of St Oliver Plunkett NS, parents are encouraged to remain in regular contact with the school.
The Staff/Parent meetings take place three times a year (October, January & June) The entire staff meet with parents in September which provides an opportunity for parents to familiarise themselves with the school. This is an evening meeting.
How will I be asked to support my child while they are in St Oliver Plunkett NS?
Homework will form a critical part of your child's time in St. Oliver Plunkett National School. It will be important for children to be provided with a suitable space to work quietly every evening. Homework will also need to be supervised, checked and signed each evening. Good attendance is especially important in a school such as ours where the programme of work is so intense and the placement so short.
I live a long way away from Monkstown. How will I get my child to school?
Most of the children come from the South Dublin/Wicklow area. The Department of Education provides transport for all of the children and a transport grant for those children who have to travel a long distance to access the school bus.
A booklet entitled "School Transport for Children with Special Needs" issued by the Dept of Education sets out information options. The Dept of Education provides the following transport options to and from the school for pupils:
(A) A travel ticket for Dublin Bus or DART for pupils using public transport.
(B) Private Coach transport via already established routes (three coaches currently operate from the Rathfarnham, Arklow and Bray directions) Application must be made by the school by May. This is organised during open day.
(C) Private Transport Grant (i.e. via car). This is a very limited grant and is not available to Parents who live on a bus route that is serving the school. Parents apply to the Dept of Education at the end of the year for this transport grant as it is based on the child's attendance throughout the year.
Please note that once applied for the above transport options cannot be changed for another alternative.
What about school lunches?
Pupils are encouraged to bring a healthy lunch i.e. fruit, sandwiches, bread rolls, yogurt, etc. No fizzy drinks or chewing gum are allowed. No sweets or chocolate are allowed from Monday to Thursday but a small treat is allowed on Fridays.
My child has a complicated medical condition. Can this be catered for?
We provide a form for you to inform us of any medical conditions that you child may have. We can administer essential medication during the school day but will not administer vitamins or occasional medication.
Is there a School Uniform?
As agreed by the Parent's association and supported by the BOM, all children wear a uniform of Navy tracksuit bottoms and tops, a red shirt and footwear of their choice. All pupils are obliged to wear the school uniform every day.
Children usually wear runners or other comfortable shoes.
Will my child have to do swimming?
Swimming is part of the PE program. All children are required to take part in the swimming instruction every Friday at Monkstown Swimming Pool for the entire school year.
Is there a school library?
We have a small, but beautifully stocked, library with all the recent titles. Children visit the library once a week with their class to choose books and can access it at other times for school assignments. Each classroom also has its own library where children can choose books. Our Library is fully computerised and children can access this catalogue in their classrooms.
How can I help the school?
If you are working in any are of expertise with the children or showing expriences, such as travel with them
Volunteer for the Parents association or for the BOM.
Help us with decorating, landscaping or gardening.
Any IT experience
Visual arts
What is involved in the Parent's association?
We have an excellent hard-working PA who fundraise and help in school planning and development. The PA is affiliated to the National Parents Council (NPC).
They organise talks for Parents on transition to second-level, healthy lunches and anti - bullying. They share expertise and experience with pupils in the form of talks and workshops. The Parent's Association is selected at the first general meeting in September and a list of members is circulated soon afterwards.
Does the school do any charity work?
Children are encouraged to raise money for those who are less fortunate than themselves. This mainly, though not exclusively, takes place on a dedicated day during lent. €1,500 was raised last year through the children's enterprises. We do not allow children to seek sponsorship for unauthorised fundraising.
Do we pay fees at St Oliver Plunkett?
There will be a cost for books and materials and a separate cost for swimming.
We also ask for a voluntary contribution in October.
Will my child find it difficult to make the transition from their school?
St. Oliver Plunkett is a very lively, vibrant school. We exist in a warm, inclusive environment where each child is encouraged to achieve their potential. Your child will, of course, be anxious and we encourage you to talk to them about any concern they may have. We have found it helpful for children to meet with and talk to current pupils and that is why our social evening at the end of the year with new and current pupils is so successful. It will also help parents to meet current parents. There can be some teething problems in September (for children and parents!) but with plenty of communication they are usually ironed out quickly.
What happens when my child leaves St. Oliver Plunkett?
Your child will return to mainstream education. We are frequently asked to recommend a school but as each child is an individual it is impossible to know which placement is best. We can provide guidelines for parents in choosing a school for a child.
