LITTLE ANGELS SPEC SCH
School Details
About
Little Angels School is a multi‑denominational special‑needs institution in Knocknamona, Letterkenny, County Donegal. It provides education for children and young people with moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities, as well as pupils on the autism spectrum, covering ages from three to eighteen years. The school operates twenty‑three dedicated classes within a purpose‑built, state‑of‑the‑art campus that opened in September 2025, offering specialised classrooms, sensory‑rich learning environments and modern ICT resources such as iPads to support personalised learning. The curriculum is designed to deliver high‑quality early intervention for 3‑5‑year‑olds with autism, alongside a comprehensive programme for older students that balances academic, life‑skills and therapeutic provision. Little Angels also functions as a resource hub for families and professionals, maintaining an online bank of up‑to‑date special‑education information and engaging with the community through social media platforms. The school operates from 9:20 am to 3:00 pm and is administered by the National Council for Special Education under the Education Act 1998.
History
Founded in the early 1980s by a group of parents seeking education for children with moderate learning disabilities, Little Angels School initially operated from a three‑bedroom house in the Ballyraine estate, accommodating up to 40 pupils who often stayed in two associated hostels. A purpose‑built school was officially opened by Minister for Education Mary O'Rourke in 1989, expanding to a two‑teacher operation with one special‑needs assistant. Over the years the school grew to 21 classes, 22 teachers and 44 special‑needs assistants (63 staff in total). In September 2012 the first of two preschool classes for children aged 3‑5 with autism was launched. Construction of a new state‑of‑the‑art building began in 2020, with the school moving into the facility in September 2025, now serving over 140 pupils.