Little Angels Special School
Letterkenny, Donegal
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 145 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 34 girls, 111 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19724A the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
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.
Applying to Little Angels Special School
For a September 2027 place, a school's formal admissions process cannot begin before 1 October 2026. The school sets its own opening and closing dates in its annual admission notice.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Little Angels Special School. Individual schools set their own discretionary closure days, confirm exact dates with the school.
- October Mid-Term Break: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027
- February Mid-Term Break: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027)
- Easter Holidays: Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027
Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Frequently asked questions about Little Angels Special School
How many pupils attend Little Angels Special School?
Little Angels Special School has 145 pupils enrolled, 34 girls and 111 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Little Angels Special School a DEIS school?
No. Little Angels Special School is not part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme of additional supports for schools serving communities at risk of educational disadvantage. Not holding DEIS status says nothing about how good a school is, only about the profile of the community it serves.
What is the ethos of Little Angels Special School?
Little Angels Special School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.