Phoenix Park Specialist School
Dublin
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 17 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 2 girls, 15 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19500B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
The Phoenix Park Specialist School is a dedicated primary‑age placement for children with severe emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD). It offers a highly supportive, nurturing environment where pupils receive intensive staff assistance and a trauma‑informed, child‑centred curriculum. Learning is delivered through a connection‑led approach that prioritises emotional literacy, wellbeing and the development of positive relationships, with discipline replaced by restorative practices. The school operates a formal Nurture Group that runs throughout the school day, staffed by two specialised Nurture Group Specialists, and all personnel are trained in trauma‑informed strategies. Facilities include a Sanctuary Nurture Garden and a purpose‑built setting on North Rd, Phoenix Park, Dublin, designed to promote safety, calm and therapeutic engagement. The school works collaboratively with families and external agencies to maximise each child’s educational progress and to support a successful transition back to mainstream education where possible.
Applying to Phoenix Park Specialist 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 Phoenix Park Specialist 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 Phoenix Park Specialist School
How many pupils attend Phoenix Park Specialist School?
Phoenix Park Specialist School has 17 pupils enrolled, 2 girls and 15 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Phoenix Park Specialist School a DEIS school?
No. Phoenix Park Specialist 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 Phoenix Park Specialist School?
Phoenix Park Specialist School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.