Special Class for children with autism to open in september 2026
We are delighted to announce that we have been sanctioned our long-awaited Special Class for Pupils with Autism for the 2026/27 school year. In accordance with the NCSE and Department of Education guidelines, the Enrolment Policy for this new class will be ratified by the Board of Management in the coming weeks, and we expect enrolment to open in early February. We will alert you in advance of this and all information will be available to you on our website.
*N.B Enrolment is currently open for Junior Infants 2026 - this is separate to the Special Class enrolment.
Please note, in line with circular 0039/2025, that the eligibility criteria for enrolment in the special class as outlined in the above circular are as follows:
Keep an eye on our website for updates. We are very excited for this new chapter in our school.
*N.B Enrolment is currently open for Junior Infants 2026 - this is separate to the Special Class enrolment.
Please note, in line with circular 0039/2025, that the eligibility criteria for enrolment in the special class as outlined in the above circular are as follows:
- Diagnosis of Autism: DSM IV/V or ICD 10/11 (psychologist, psychiatrist, multidisciplinary report) AND
- A demonstration of the understanding of complexity of the child’s overall level of need/s evidenced in the professional reports AND
- Given the severity or complexity of the child’s support needs, a clear professional recommendation as to what educational placement type would be most appropriate to best meet the child’s needs, along with the rationale for same AND
- A letter from the NCSE confirming that the child is known to them and that the child has the required diagnosis and a recommendation for a special class for autism.
Keep an eye on our website for updates. We are very excited for this new chapter in our school.
safe routes to school
A huge thank you to KCC and Safe Routes to School for the fantastic job they did at the front of our school.
Safety is always of the utmost importance at Scoil Mochua and we are delighted to have the new School Zone which helps to further ensure the children's safe arrival at school.
In order to allow for the successful implementation of this we encourage parents to:
Accompany and encourage students to walk, cycle, scoot or wheel to and from school.
Be extra vigilant of those walking, cycling, scooting and wheeling to and from school.
Adhere to the principle of the School Zone and minimise parking within it.
Reduce your speed when passing through the School Zone.
Use Park and Stride where possible.
Safety is always of the utmost importance at Scoil Mochua and we are delighted to have the new School Zone which helps to further ensure the children's safe arrival at school.
In order to allow for the successful implementation of this we encourage parents to:
Accompany and encourage students to walk, cycle, scoot or wheel to and from school.
Be extra vigilant of those walking, cycling, scooting and wheeling to and from school.
Adhere to the principle of the School Zone and minimise parking within it.
Reduce your speed when passing through the School Zone.
Use Park and Stride where possible.
Special Class Update - may 2025
Please see the dedicated page, linked below, for details of our journey to date and for an update from 12th May 2025.
School life 2025
EU Grant Funding
In late 2021, a Department of Education and Youth project in Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), supported by the European Union through NextGenerationEU funding under its Recovery and Resilience Facility, provided funding to schools.
Under this programme, Scoil Mochua received grant funding to implement initiatives to address the digital divide and the needs of learners at risk of educational disadvantage.
This funding came at an opportune time. The Covid school closures highlighted the digital divide between, and within, schools.
The funding was used to address this gap, as well as to support our Digital Strategy in using digital technologies to promote active learner participation and engagement in a wide range of learning activities.
Scoil Mochua used the grant to fund the following:
· Replacement of old devices
· Refurbishment of old devices which were made available for children to borrow when required
· Bee-Bots: devices to promote analytical thinking and develop problem solving skills though play.
Funding opportunities such as these are essential in order for schools to engage with the Department of Education’s Digital Strategy for Schools. Scoil Mochua looks forward to enhanced funding in the future.
Under this programme, Scoil Mochua received grant funding to implement initiatives to address the digital divide and the needs of learners at risk of educational disadvantage.
This funding came at an opportune time. The Covid school closures highlighted the digital divide between, and within, schools.
The funding was used to address this gap, as well as to support our Digital Strategy in using digital technologies to promote active learner participation and engagement in a wide range of learning activities.
Scoil Mochua used the grant to fund the following:
· Replacement of old devices
· Refurbishment of old devices which were made available for children to borrow when required
· Bee-Bots: devices to promote analytical thinking and develop problem solving skills though play.
Funding opportunities such as these are essential in order for schools to engage with the Department of Education’s Digital Strategy for Schools. Scoil Mochua looks forward to enhanced funding in the future.
Principal's address
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Welcome to our school website. We are very proud of it and we hope you enjoy your virtual tour of the school. Our parents are our partners in education and their ongoing support helps to make Scoil Mochua the thriving, busy, happy school that it is. |
First and foremost, the website was designed as a window for our parents into our school and into classroom life.
We want to share classroom stories and school life with our partners in education. We feel that it is important to share these precious moments from the children’s school life - we know they generate smiles and warm the heart! School life for our children is so varied, and the children are exposed to so many exciting learning opportunities. We love to capture these on camera and post them on the website so that families can chat about them at home.
Of course, the website also attracts visits from grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends. We are delighted and proud to welcome all of you. Above all else in our school, we value the children’s happiness and their enjoyment of learning. Their energy, inquisitiveness and level of engagement in learning never ceases to amaze us. I hope some of this jumps off the pages as you browse through the photographs of class activities and school events.
For those of you who are history buffs, or are simply interested in learning more about Celbridge, you will enjoy reading about the history of Celbridge on the website. Our lovely village is steeped in history – you will be amazed!
And, of course, the website is an excellent communication platform. Read some of our policies, the school calendar, information on our super Parents’ Association, useful educational links to enhance your child’s learning, details on school sporting events – it’s all there. You can also follow us on Twitter @scoilmochua for updates on the wide variety of learning that happens in Scoil Mochua.
Happy Browsing!
Kind Regards,
Catherine Carragher, Principal.
