Mayo Sligo Leitrim Regional Education and Language Team (REALT)
Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) are hosted by the regional education and training boards around Ireland. The REALT for Counties Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim is hosted by MSLETB.
The primary role of the REALT is to build on existing regional education support structures and to focus initially on assisting families in securing school places at primary or post-primary level. REALT will also support primary and post-primary schools in the area to meet the needs of these children as they emerge, to advise and support the Department of Education in developing new capacity where required, and to co-ordinate the provision of education services to schools and families across the counties of Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim.
These teams will ensure that clear, accessible information flows are in place between schools, local education support services and national support structures in relation to people arriving from Ukraine.
The team, organised through a dedicated REALT Co-ordinator, has representatives from National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) , Tusla Education Support Service (TESS), school management bodies, the Department of Education Inspectorate and Bus Éireann.
Primary and Post Primary Education:
Accessing school places (primary and post-primary)
To secure a place for a child in school, parents/guardians should approach any local school (primary or post-primary depending on the age of the child) and ask about a place for the child in that school. If the school has a place available, they will provide information on how to enrol in that school.
Do you need help to find school places for 2024/2025?
Scan the QR Code with your phone camera to register for support
Please Note:
If Parents/Guardians choose not to enrol their child in school and intend to engage them exclusively in online Ukrainian schooling, they need to register with AEARS (Alternative Education Assessment Registration Service) in Tusla. The link is below:
Privacy Statements
School Transports
School Transport Services for children arriving to Ireland from Ukraine 2023/24 school year
Ukrainian children attending primary or post-primary schools may apply for school transport. The application process for school transport will vary, depending on the living arrangements of the Ukrainian children. (Please see the relevant category below for information)
Children in host family homes/in pledge accommodation/with their family living in their own independent/private accommodation
New applications for school transport for the above children must be made by the parent/guardian directly.
A new application is:
- If your child has been enrolled for the first time in this school
- If your child has moved schools
- If your child has moved accommodation
Please Note: If you have made an application for your child for school transport previously, and their home or school address has not changed, you do not need to re-apply for school transport, the application will carry over to the 23/24 school year. If a pupil has changed their home address or changed school then a new application must be submitted.
New applications for school transport can be made via an online form (in English, Ukrainian and Russian) which is available here: Application for pupils residing in host family homes/independent living/pledged accommodation
All new and existing applications for transport will be assessed by Bus Éireann.
Bus Éireann will check availability of school transport services and whether spare capacity exists.
Where seats are available on existing services, the normal eligibility criteria will not apply and eligibility will be granted to the school that the child/children are enrolled in provided that this is the closest school that has capacity for the pupil at the time of enrolment.
As seats are assigned to pupils, Bus Éireann will issue tickets to families. Children will be expected to meet the service at the existing pick-up point. There will be no charge for the ticket.
In cases where there is no existing service or where there is no capacity on an existing service, a grant can be offered to the family as appropriate to support them with the cost of transport arrangements
Children staying in accommodation centres/modular builds (or similar)
New applications for school transport for the 2023/2024 school year for the above children must be made by the school principals.
A new application is:
- If your child has been enrolled for the first time in this school
- If your child has moved schools
- If your child has moved accommodation centre/ modular build (or similar)
School principals in the MSLETB region should contact [email protected] to make a transport application. The information will be submitted by REALT to Bus Éireann in order to provide school transport services as required. School principals may apply for transport for children attending their school who are residing in accommodation centres (or similar).
Please note:
- If a school principal has made an application for a child for school transport previously, and their home or school address has not changed, the school principal does not need to re-apply for school transport, the application will carry over to the 23/24 school year.
- If your school is not in Counties Mayo, Sligo or Leitrim, you will find details of your local REALT here: REALT contact details
- Points of contact in Department of Education’s School Transport Section
- Phone Number: 057 9325467 (during office hours)
- Email Address: [email protected]
Some Supports for Ukrainian Students
Primary: https://www.scoilnet.ie/go-to-primary/clsupports/
Post-Primary: https://www.scoilnet.ie/go-to-post-primary/clsupports/
Language materials in Ukrainian and Russian are now available in digital format on the website https://languagesconnect.ie/language-mats/ EAL teachers use these to support development of the language of schooling. They provide commonly used classroom language in Ukrainian and Russian.
A link is also available through which hard copies may be ordered according to the particular requirements of the school.
Resources available to support displaced Ukrainian children’s right to education, as provided by the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights area available through the links below:
Educational Resources for Ukrainian Children (Ukrainian)
Educational Resources for Ukrainian Children (English translation)
National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has developed resources to assist schools in supporting students. These resources are separately targeted at Primary schools and Post Primary schools.
- Guidance on supporting all children who may be experiencing distress in relation to current events – Supporting Children and Young People in a time of war.
- Guidance for primary and post-primary schools in relation to supporting the wellbeing of Ukrainian children/young people at this time.
All of the NEPS wellbeing supports for the Ukrainian crisis are available on the Wellbeing in Education webpage on gov.ie at the following link here.
Ukrainian Education System
The Ukrainian Ministry of Education has published information in English on their website. This includes advice on the use of the All-Ukrainian Online School, the curriculum that Ukrainian children would follow if at home and an overview of the Ukrainian education system.
The website can be accessed here – Information from Ukrainian Ministry of Education.
Pre-School Education
Information on pre-school and childcare programmes and supports in Ireland is available on the Government of Ireland website.
The information booklet “A Parent’s Guide to Childcare in Ireland” has been translated and is available in English, Ukrainian and Russian.
