Parent Information
Table of Contents:
Opening Times
The morning session starts at 8.30am and ends at 12.00pm.
The afternoon session starts at 12.30pm and ends at 3.30pm.
Term Schedule
Term 1Early September to Christmas
Term 2Early January to the end of June (With a short break at Easter)
Weekly Summer Camps (optional)4 separate themed weeks during July. Click here for more information.
ECCE Scheme
The school is currently participating in the ECCE scheme.
For further information please visit www.omcya.ie or call the Government Helpline on 1890 303039
Parental Involvement
It is the policy of the school to promote the active participation of parents in the planning and development of the school. We value parents as the first educators of their children.
- Regular meetings will be held with parents
- Parents will be provided with a handbook giving details of the school before the child starts.
- Parents are encouraged to be involved with aspects of the school that affects their child.
- Parents are welcome to visit the school at any time during school hours.
- Parents will be offered information on parenting, health, courses, events and other areas of potential interest.
- We commit to communicate on a regular basis with parents and ensure that staff members are available to discuss with a parent any issue they may have with the service provided by the school.
Settling in the Child
It is the policy of this school that every effort is made to ensure that the settling in period is as easy and as pleasant as possible for the children and their parents/carers.
- Each parent is provided with an information pack about the school before the child starts.
- Each parent is encouraged to talk to the child about where they will be going, what they will be doing, who they will meet and why they will be going to school.
- Each parent is encouraged to drop in to the school with their child before the child starts, so that the child can become familiar with the other children, staff and day to day running of the school.
- On the first day the parent is encouraged to stay with the child until he or she feels comfortable in their new surroundings.
- Each parent is encouraged to spend as much time as necessary with the child during the settling in period. There is no set time limit on the settling in period.
- We discourage parents from "sneaking" out regardless of how upset the child is, this only adds to their anxiety and breaks down the child's sense of trust.
- The child will be told in advance that the parent will be leaving to go to work in "five minutes" or "after the story". When it is time for the parent to go, we encourage the parents to say goodbye and go. Continued extensions to the separation seem to only add to anxiety and make separation more difficult.
- No child will be pressurised to take part in any activity during this settling in period.
- One staff member will be assigned to a child starting. They will be responsible for welcoming, settling in the child and where possible, returning the child to the parent at the end of the day.
- To help staff build a relationship with the children, staff will discuss the child's interests with parents, their likes and dislikes.
- Each parent will be given a daily account of the child's progress during the settling in period.
Nutrition
It is our aim to ensure that the child's nutritional needs are met while they are in our care.
- Each parent must provide a small healthy packed snack for their child.
- Parents should help to encourage their children to eat nutritious food such as fruit and vegetables.
- The school discourages the intake of foods high in fat, sugar, salt or unnecessary additives and therefore no sweets, chocolate or fizzy drinks are permitted as part of the child's snack.
- If your child has any special dietary needs, you should inform the school upon registration.
Vehicle & Pedestrian Access
- In accordance with the planning permission conditions regarding St. Lawrence Montessori School, the following procedures are put in place for dropping off and collection of the children. All parents / carers coming by car to the school must park at the rear of the school in St. Anthony's Church car park. From there, they may access the school through the rear entrance in the laneway behind the house. Under no circumstances should they park on St. Lawrence Road or in the laneway, regardless of weather conditions.
- The children must be accompanied at all times when accessing the school via the laneway. For their own safety children must not be let run free in the laneway.
- If a parent and child are coming on foot to the school they may enter the school by either the front or the rear entrance.
