St. Laurence's National School

The Future at St. Laurences

In March 2006 the Board of Management (BoM) reviewed accommodation at the school. It was decided that the present overall enrolment would remain unchanged and that approval be sought for an Extension to the school to include 2 Mainstream Classrooms (to allow for pupil/teacher ratio changes), Tuition Rooms (for Learning Support and Resource Teachers), Staffroom, Physical Education Hall and a Child-Minding Facility. In September 2006 the Planning Section of the Department of Education & Science visited the school and was given a briefing on our requirements. In March 2007 the Department informed the BoM that they were willing to explore the inclusion of a Child-Minding Facility in the school. A special meeting of parents resulted in the setting up of a group to prepare an application for grant-aid for this Facility. Congratulations to the parents involved as the application is 95% completed after a huge amount of hard work. Both Patron and Departmental approval has been given for this facility.

The Department announced a change in the pupil/teacher ratio resulting in our school having an extra teacher from September 2007. The BoM applied for a temporary classroom to accommodate the new teacher. I am pleased to let you know that on Monday last the BoM received the final approval for the temporary classroom and our expectation is that it will be installed and ready for use immediately after the mid-term break.

During June the BoM sought a meeting with the Department to discuss our application for a new extension. Arising from that meeting the BoM re-submitted the application for an extension seeking 6 Mainstream Classrooms with remainder of application unchanged (to prepare for potential pupil/teacher ratio changes). A detailed application form for the extension was forwarded for the Department’s attention during the 1 week of August.

In December the County Council approved the Greystones/Delgany Area Plan. This included the school plus adjoining properties in a Local Area Plan (LAP). The BoM has been involved in the preparation of a Draft LAP. It is foreseen in this LAP that the land between the school boundary at the Staff Carpark end of the school and the adjoining property will become school property. The Child-Minding Facility will be accommodated on this land together with new car-parking and improved traffic facilities.

The BoM awaits formal approval of the new Extension and is doing everything possible to hasten that approval.