Scoil Aislinn
School Details
About
Scoil Aislinn is a co‑educational special school in Ballintemple, Cork, dedicated to children and young people aged 4‑18 years who have autism and complex needs. The school adopts an individualised, holistic approach that nurtures each pupil’s social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Learning is centred on the strengths and interests of each child, with a strong emphasis on therapeutic and sensory experiences that support wellbeing and skill acquisition. The campus comprises six bright, spacious classrooms and a range of specialist facilities. A 14‑seat school bus enables regular community outings and extracurricular activities such as horse riding. The sensory garden, refurbished in 2018, offers raised beds, aromatic plants and a bucket swing for tactile exploration. A modern sensory room and a dedicated Occupational Therapy (OT) room equipped with a climbing wall, trampoline and OT swing provide therapeutic environments. Additional amenities include a well‑stocked library, a large sports hall (the Halla) for physical education and sensory circuits, and a fully equipped playground with artificial grass, swings, slides and a communication board. Scoil Aislinn’s ethos is to create a safe, caring and therapeutic setting where students, families and staff collaborate to enhance each child’s wellbeing. The school’s programmes aim to develop unique skills and talents, preparing pupils for greater independence and participation in the wider community.
History
The school began as CABAS in 1998. It moved to its present Boreenmanna Road premises, which were officially opened by the then Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin, on 21 March 2003. On 1 February 2011, CABAS formally transitioned to Scoil Aislinn under the patronage of the Cope Foundation.