Moving from pre-school to primary school

Moving from pre-school to primary school is a big milestone for your child. Learn more about how to prepare for this transition in your family's life.

Video

The HSE Developmental and Autism Psychology Service for Carlow/Kilkenny created this video on this topic. 

National Council for Special Education (NCSE)

The NCSE's local service is delivered through a national network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs). All parents applying for a specialist school placement for their child, such as an autism class and/or a special school, should link in with their local SENO. 

SENOs work in the following ways:

• They plan, co-ordinate and review the provision of additional education supports to schools that enrol students with special educational needs in line with Department of Education policy.
• They support parents and guardians by providing information, establishing special classes and engaging with other professionals working with your child.
• They advise and support parents around the availability of special classes, special schools and other educational supports.
• They process Transport and Assistive Technology applications and forward them to the Department of Education for sanction.
• They provide parents with advice and useful tips on transition from pre-school to school, from primary school to post primary school, and onto adult services. Click here for more information.

Notification process when seeking a place in a special school or special class

See here for information on the how to notify the NCSE that you are seeking a place for your child in a Special School or Special Class. 

You will use a Parents Notify form which is an online form to let the NCSE know that you are seeking a place for your child in a Special School or Special Class. Once the form is submitted, the NCSE will review your information. If the reports provided meet the criteria, you will receive an eligibility letter. This letter is required when applying for a Special Class or a Special School. 

If you already have an eligibility letter, there is no need to complete this form again, but please contact your local SENO for an updated eligibility letter. If your child is not eligible, a SENO will contact you to discuss available options. If you are unsure whether you need to fill out the form, please contact your local SENO.

Information on how to contact your local SENO is shared here, along with the contact person for each school in the country.

Online resources

See also the NCSE's Online Resources section for parents which is divided out as follows: early years, primary school, post-primary school, special class/school. 

Further resources and information

• Preparing young children for Primary school. A NCSE resource for parents, early learning and care settings and schools 
• The NCSE have a video on starting primary school which is for children with additional needs

• A school social story by Enable Ireland: My new school 
• The NCSE communication passport for pupils
• The National Parents Council leaflet on Supporting your child’s transition from Pre-school to Primary School 
• The NCSE Starting school: Guidelines for parents/guardians of children with special educational needs 
• Down Syndrome Ireland have resources for children of primary school age
• Ambitions for Transitions – A Guide to Support Every Child’s Progression from Early Years Services to Primary School
• AsIAm have a School Transition Supports section in their Resource Library

Page last reviewed: 27 August 2025

Next review due: 27 August 2026