Gaeloideachas is delighted to publish an updated edition of An Traein. We hope that it will be a valuable and practical resource for naíonra and primary school teachers and principals, and will help them to implement an excellent transfer programme. There are plenty of tips throughout An Traein on how to develop a worthwhile transfer programme, how to document children’s interests, development, learning and challenges, and how to compile a programme of transition activities. An Traein includes templates and profiles, which naíonraí and schools can adapt to their own needs and use to document the transition process. It also includes ideas on how to strengthen the relationship between the naíonra and the primary school, and we hope that these will encourage even greater continuity between the two levels of immersion education. At the end of the booklet, we have included additional suggestions, transition activities and templates from Mo Scéal (NCCA 2018) that naíonraí and schools can use alongside the other resources. 

The Irish-medium education sector has worked hard for many years to strengthen continuity in the early immersion phase, and to facilitate the transition from naíonra to primary school. Gaeloideachas is providing support to the Irish-medium early-years sector outside the Gaeltacht since 2014. We recognise that an effective transition process from the naíonra to the primary school is essential to ensure that children are happy – and ready – when they start school.

Our sincere thanks to the author, Dr Máire Mhic Mhathúna, who has vast expertise and a wealth of practical experience of working in a naíonra and managing transitions. We’re very grateful to everyone who contributed to the first edition, most especially the naíonra and primary school teachers and the children who took part in the project.

You can download An Traein here.