Please apply Between October and November to start in the September of the next school year.
Like most schools, st Joseph's accepts applications for September enrollment during October, November and December of the previous year. Further information can be found on the school website: www.stjosephspschool.com or by contacting school principal Sarah McGinley email: [email protected]
St Joseph's special school
A Modern Multi-denominational school located in Galway City catering for children with a moderate general learning disability who live in Co Galway.
Its one of the largest special schools in the country yet maintains the same small family feeling its held since it was established in 1964.
St Joseph's have a very dedicated staff of about 100 including teachers , SNAs, bus escorts and ancillary staff who take great care to have a warm welcoming child-centered school environment promoting teaching and learning.
The school follows the same curriculum as a mainstream school, tailored to be accessible to the pupils attending.
We boast a strong connection with GAP and our neighbours in NUIG and the Jes as well as keeping close links with downsyndrome Ireland Galway branch.
We work in partnership with the 7 CDNT teams in co Galway to meet the needs of our pupils.
For further information regarding local availability of school places and school options open to all children with additional needs including a specialist school placement / special class / ASD class etc. contacting a special educational needs officer (SENO) through the NCSE is the most appropriate route. Your local CDNT can also guide you.
To enroll at one of the four special schools under the patronage of Ability West, a recent psychological assessment and specific recommendation for a special school placement by the childs CDNT is essential.
Children can enroll from age 5 to age 17. Children graduate from special school the June after their 18th birthday.
Please note, unlike at other special schools or special classes in the city, the respite services for any pupils enrolled at St Joseph's is provided through Ability West and not the local CDNT this may result in a change of your current respite provision and is worth considering carefully.
Other services like Psychology, Behaviour support, Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy and OT are organised by the child's local CDNT, and not through ability West.
Please note the following from the NCSE which we are required to share with you:
https://ncse.ie/notify-ncse-special-class-special-school
The NCSE seeks to assist parents seeking a special class/school placement for their child/young person.
In the Department of Education Circular gov.ie – New measures to support the Forward Planning for Special Education Provision (www.gov.ie) it is indicated that parents seeking a special class or special school placement for their child for the coming academic year 2025/26 make contact with the NCSE.
In order to assist with making this contact, we have set up a dedicated NCSE email address you can use to make initial contact with us:
[email protected]
What you can expect:
1. NCSE Service Delivery Support Team will acknowledge your initial email.
2. NCSE Service Delivery Support Team will check that you have included your consent form and professional report(s).
3. When we have your consent and professional report(s) the NCSE Service Delivery Support Team will forward them to your local Regional team, who will check that they meet eligibility criteria for the placement you seek.
4. Your local SENO will make direct contact with you to discuss your child’s placement requirements and options.
5. Your local SENO will provide you with written feedback that reflects the review of your submitted documents.
Parents should not delay in making applications for special classes and special school placements to schools that have opened their admissions process for the coming year, when waiting for the NCSE to get back to you.
This new process has been developed to support schools and families and to assist the NCSE in planning for additional specialist placements. Schools have been made aware that our role is to assist with this process, whilst each school follows their own admissions policy.
A Modern Multi-denominational school located in Galway City catering for children with a moderate general learning disability who live in Co Galway.
Its one of the largest special schools in the country yet maintains the same small family feeling its held since it was established in 1964.
St Joseph's have a very dedicated staff of about 100 including teachers , SNAs, bus escorts and ancillary staff who take great care to have a warm welcoming child-centered school environment promoting teaching and learning.
The school follows the same curriculum as a mainstream school, tailored to be accessible to the pupils attending.
We boast a strong connection with GAP and our neighbours in NUIG and the Jes as well as keeping close links with downsyndrome Ireland Galway branch.
We work in partnership with the 7 CDNT teams in co Galway to meet the needs of our pupils.
For further information regarding local availability of school places and school options open to all children with additional needs including a specialist school placement / special class / ASD class etc. contacting a special educational needs officer (SENO) through the NCSE is the most appropriate route. Your local CDNT can also guide you.
To enroll at one of the four special schools under the patronage of Ability West, a recent psychological assessment and specific recommendation for a special school placement by the childs CDNT is essential.
Children can enroll from age 5 to age 17. Children graduate from special school the June after their 18th birthday.
Please note, unlike at other special schools or special classes in the city, the respite services for any pupils enrolled at St Joseph's is provided through Ability West and not the local CDNT this may result in a change of your current respite provision and is worth considering carefully.
Other services like Psychology, Behaviour support, Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy and OT are organised by the child's local CDNT, and not through ability West.
Please note the following from the NCSE which we are required to share with you:
https://ncse.ie/notify-ncse-special-class-special-school
The NCSE seeks to assist parents seeking a special class/school placement for their child/young person.
In the Department of Education Circular gov.ie – New measures to support the Forward Planning for Special Education Provision (www.gov.ie) it is indicated that parents seeking a special class or special school placement for their child for the coming academic year 2025/26 make contact with the NCSE.
In order to assist with making this contact, we have set up a dedicated NCSE email address you can use to make initial contact with us:
[email protected]
What you can expect:
1. NCSE Service Delivery Support Team will acknowledge your initial email.
2. NCSE Service Delivery Support Team will check that you have included your consent form and professional report(s).
3. When we have your consent and professional report(s) the NCSE Service Delivery Support Team will forward them to your local Regional team, who will check that they meet eligibility criteria for the placement you seek.
4. Your local SENO will make direct contact with you to discuss your child’s placement requirements and options.
5. Your local SENO will provide you with written feedback that reflects the review of your submitted documents.
Parents should not delay in making applications for special classes and special school placements to schools that have opened their admissions process for the coming year, when waiting for the NCSE to get back to you.
This new process has been developed to support schools and families and to assist the NCSE in planning for additional specialist placements. Schools have been made aware that our role is to assist with this process, whilst each school follows their own admissions policy.
We expect to have 8 spaces in the school
For September 2026
Admissions Notice for school year 2025-26:
| admissions-notice_2026-27.docx |
Application Form
Download and complete this please:
| st_josephs_special_school_enrolment_application_form_2024.docx |
Who can apply?
We accept applications for children aged 5 to 17 with a diagnosis of a moderate general learning disability with a report from a psychologist specifically recommending a special school placement.
Enrolment at St. Josephs follows the steps as laid out in our policy
Admissions Policy
| admissions_policy_2025.docx |
|School Roll Number 19047H
| Phone: 091521895 |
| Web: www.stjosephspschool.com |
| School email [email protected] |
| Registered Charity No. 20140182 |
| Phone: 091521895 |
| Web: www.stjosephspschool.com |
| School email [email protected] |
| Registered Charity No. 20140182 |
