Naiscoil an Iuir Annual Report and Financial Accounts
For year ended 30[th] June 2018 Submitted 01 June 2018
The committee of Naiscoil an Iuir are please to submit their annual report and financial accounts for the period 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018
Naiscoil details
Address
Naiscoil an Iuir, 74 Kilmorey St.,
Newry,
Co Down, Northern Ireland BT34 2DH
Naiscoil Information
Naiscoil an Iuir was established in 1988, is a voluntary, not-for-profit preschool, providing education through the medium of Irish. We are a registered charity with the Northern Ireland Charity Commision (No 104684). Our last Department of Education playgroup inspection in May 2014 rated us as ‘Very Good’. In 2018 we had a further Department of Education inspection, and the final results are still pending as of 03/04/2019. We are registered by the Education Authority, Southern Region, as a PEAGS preschool. We currently provide space for up to 16 children, and may take non-PEAGSfunded children if spaces are available. A healthy ‘sos’ (break) snack is provided daily for our children. The preschool hours are 08.45 to 11.15, and children may choose to stay for an extra 1 hour 15 mins per day until 12.30 for a small weekly fee (currently £20 for 6 hours 15 mins, payable weekly, reviewed annually).
Naiscoil an Iuir is non-denominational, and welcomes children from all backgrounds. Families do not need to be Irish-Speakers to attend. We are the
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main feeder preshcool for Bunscoil an Iuir (Newry’s only Irish-Medium Primary School), with which we share premises.
In 2018 we celebrated 30 years since our foundation.
Committee members
Ann McGaffin (Chair) Sinead Magill (Secretary) Correna Harte (Treasurer) Patrick McKevitt Conor Sands Mairead Doran
At the 2019 AGM Aisling McElroy stood down as a committee member.
Staff members
Aine Ni hIr, Ceannaire (Leader)
Linda Devlin, Leas-Cheannaire (Deputy Leader) Chloe Ni Runaidh (Part-time assistant)
Meetings held (since charity registration 13/04/2016)
13 April 2016 08 June 2016 28 Sept 2016
22 Nov 2016
14 Dec 2016 (AGM) 02 Mar 2017
07 May 2017
07 Nov 2017
08 Feb 2018 (AGM)
28 Mar 2018
12 Sept 2018
30 Jan 2019
12 Feb 2019 (AGM)
03 Apr 2019
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Children currently registered (2018-2019)
Currently there are 15 children registered for funded PEAGS places, and one self-funded child.
Children Registered for next year (2019-2020)
Numbers are not yet finalised. Ten children had Naiscoil an Iuir as 1[st] preference, nine as 2[nd] preference, and seven as 3[rd] preference.
Social Media
We have an active FaceBook site with 250 members. This page is used by parents to interact, and by the staff to share stories and photographs. It is also a useful means of providing information to parents, and in the promotion of the Irish language and bilingualism in a child-centred way.
Publicity and Public Relations
From time to time we may submit news to local newspapers (such as a trip to the Dentist). Only children whose parents have consented to their images being used are included.
Fundraising
The most recent fundraising initiative was a bake sale, and this raised £190.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
In accordance with the recent requirements, we have reviewed our data sharing and data management policies and procedures, and will continue to keep this under review.
Altram
Altram is the regional support group for Irish-medium early years projects. It was founded in 1996 by local preschools in Derry, Belfast, Armagh and Newry. Altram was set up to: Support Irish-medium early years providers, improve the standard of provision in the sector, and to promote the
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importance of the early years in Irish medium education. Altram works closely with sectoral groups supporting both existing and emerging naíonraí. The Altram website is an online resource for naíscoil staff, committees, parents and children www.altram.org.
We had several visits from Altram in preperation for the ETI Inspection. In addition, an education workshop by Altram on the Roles of the Committee is planned for April 2019.
Social Services
The group is registered with Social Services and is subject to inspection by Early Years Social Workers. The most recent inspection was during March 2019.
Children’s Graduation
A graduation ceremony is held annually at the end of the preschool year, to which parents and other family members are invited to attend.
Speech and Language Therapy Services
A speech and language therapist attend every second Friday and provides a group session. This has been noted to be an excellent service.
‘Turais’ / Trips
From time to time trips are organised for the children, with an emphasis on both education and fun. Examples include: Bagnall’s Castle, Dentists, Newry Library, Funhouse, and Friar Tucks.
Monthly ‘themes’
The Naiscoil has a theme of the month as part of their educational plan throught he medium of Irish, for example, ‘travel / the world’, ‘my body’, ‘our house’.
Additional information
Public benefit
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Naiscoil an Iuir provides pre school education for eligible children (i.e. 3-4 years old), delivering the full pre school curriculum through the medium of Irish. PEAGS and privately funded places are avaliable. The Naiscoil provides a good foundation for proceeding into either Irish of English medium primary school education. Children attending the Naiscoil have the benefit of an early introduction to the Irish language. The Naiscoil acts as a feeder nursery to the Bunscoil an Iuir, with many Naiscoil pupils progressing into full time Irish medium primary education. The Naiscoil is non denominational and welcomes all faiths and backgrounds. Parents with no knowledge of Irish language benefit from an introduction to the language. Benefits are demonstrated by DOE NI inspections, Social Services Early Years inspections and parent feedback surveys. The only private benefit is in providing employment to Naiscoil staff. It is not considered there is any harm from the purposes of the organisation.
Charitable purposes
The Naíscoil is established to advance education of the public in An Iúir and its environs of Co an Dúin through the medium of Irish and without discrimination in particular to advance the education of children below compulsory school age by providing safe and satisfying group play and encouraging parents and guardians to understand and provide for the needs of their children.
Financial Accounts
Accounts in the form of receipts and payments are maintained by the treasurer.
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