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“Why is this time of year so hard for
my neurodivergent child?”
As the school year comes closer to ending, many parents start noticing that their child seems more emotional, more overwhelmed, more tired, or less able to cope with things they usually manage.
And honestly this time of year can feel big for a lot of children but especially for neurodivergent children.
So today we’re sharing one question we hear a lot at this stage of the school year along with our OT perspective.
Just one question and one answer.
This question comes up a lot:
“Why is this time of year so hard for my neurodivergent child?”
By this stage of the year many children are simply reaching their capacity.
Over the past months, they may have been working hard every single day to manage:
• busy classrooms
• noise and sensory input
• transitions and routines
• social demands
• concentrating for long periods
• keeping up with expectations
• masking or pushing through when things feel difficult
Even children who appear to be coping well externally may be using a huge amount of energy internally just to get through the school day.
As the year goes on, that effort can build and build.
Then towards the end of the year, we often see extra demands added in:
• school tours
• sports days
• performances and rehearsals
• changes to routine
• award ceremonies
• more excitement and unpredictability
• tiredness from a long school year
For many neurodivergent children, all of this can lead to feeling overwhelmed much more quickly.
You might notice:
• bigger emotions
• more meltdowns after school
• increased sensory sensitivities
• difficulty concentrating
• more resistance at home
• needing extra connection or reassurance
• appearing “wired” or exhausted
This is often not a child “going backwards.”
Very often, it’s a sign that they’ve been coping with a lot for a long time and their brain and body are asking for support.
At this time of year, it can really help to focus less on pushing through and more on protecting capacity where possible.
Some things that can help include:
• Prioritising rest and downtime outside of school
• Reducing extra demands where you can
• Allowing more movement, sensory regulation, and decompression time
• Keeping home routines predictable and calm
• Expecting that your child may need more support than usual right now
• Focusing on connection and co-regulation over correction
• Speaking with your child’s school if they are reaching overwhelm
• Considering whether temporary supports like a reduced timetable,
shorter days, shorter weeks, or occasional mental health days may help protect capacity during this period.
Sometimes small adjustments and understanding from the adults around them can make a huge difference.
Sometimes children are not trying to be difficult at the end of the school year, they are simply showing us that they are tired.
Áine & Kevin
Everyday OT
Designer Minds STEAM Summer Camps are coming to Athenry, Gort, Oranmore, Loughrea and over 140 locations this summer! Ballyglass NS has an exclusive €10 discount code for families who book!
Designer Minds is Ireland's leading Science, Design & Technology summer camp for children aged 6 to 12. Across a fun-packed week, children get hands-on with robotics, coding, chemistry, biology, engineering, maths, and art and design. There are over 15 activities in all, led by friendly and welcoming, garda-vetted leaders.
To save €10 per place, just enter the Referral code: friend9PVEFYR at checkout (and everytime our code is used,, Ballyglass NS has a chance of winning free workshops). Sibling discounts are also available on the checkout page, and you can secure a place with a €30 deposit.
Find out all of the details and book online at https://designerminds.ie/camps
Review of the Department of Education & Youth’s
Wellbeing Policy Statement & Framework for Practice
With the Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice Implementation Plan having come to its conclusion in 2025, the Department of Education and Youth is currently undertaking a review and assessment of the progress made and are now planning for its successor.
As part of this review, the Department is seeking the views and experiences of students, parents/guardians and school staff across primary and post-primary schools. Our school’s participation is important in ensuring that the policy reflects the lived realities of school communities and supports positive wellbeing outcomes.
Parents / Guardians: Click here to complete the parent/guardian survey
The survey is designed to gather feedback on current wellbeing practices, identify strengths and challenges, and inform future policy development. All responses will be treated in confidence and used solely for the purposes of the policy review.
Surveys are open until 2 June 2026
2026 Anti Litter Poster Competition.pdf
From the Department of Education
Make sure your voice is heard:
The Department of Education and Youth has launched the National Conversation on Education Survey to gather views on the future of education in Ireland. The findings will help shape the agenda for the Convention on Education taking place later this year. The Convention on Education is a once in a generation opportunity for children, young people, parents, educators and wider society to help shape Ireland’s education system for decades to come.
The survey is open to everyone and takes approximately fifteen minutes to complete. You can access it at the link below:
National Conversation on Education Survey
Flu Information for Parents
Flu Alert for Schools 081225 letter (1).pdfFlu Alert for Schools 081225 1 page message (1).pdfGalway School Smartphone Awareness Week 24th - 28th November
This December the RSA’s Check it Fits service will be visiting County Galway. Did you know it’s the law that all children under 150cms or 36kgs must use a child car seat appropriate to their weight and height. In Ireland as many as 54% of child car seats are incorrectly fitted which can lead to serious injury or even death in a collision. Since the start of the service, the RSA’s ‘Check it Fits’ Service has checked over 70,000 child car seats and restraints in Ireland.
The Check it Fits service is quick, it’s easy, it’s free. On the day our experts will advise on how to fix any problem, demonstrate how to fit the restraint correctly and answer any queries participants might have. Our experts aim to put parent’s, grandparent’s and guardian’s minds at ease that their child’s car seat is safely and securely fitted in their car.
TESS Poster.pdfTusla Education Support Services (TESS)
New data published by Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) shows that one in five children in primary and post-primary school are missing a month or more of their school year. The 2023/24 report indicates that while non-attendance is decreasing it is still significantly greater than pre-pandemic levels.
TESS and the Department of Education and Youth launched a national multimedia campaign to highlight this nationwide issue and create awareness about the importance of attending school. The campaign reinforces the message that when a child can go to school they should go to school, helping to reduce absenteeism in schools in Ireland.
A new support page has been developed in collaboration with key stakeholders and is available for parents and schools at www.gov.ie/schoolattendance and www.gov.ie/freastalscoile with helpful guidance on many issues affecting school attendance.
The Primary School Survey.pdf
Leaflets for Parents on New Primary Curricculum.pdfPrimary School Principal Letter Sept 2025 Final ENGLISH.pdf
2025-Tips-for-Parents_English.pdf
Dear parents,
There is a Zoom webinar for 6th class parents taking place on Tuesday, the 17th of June, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, that you might find useful.
It will provide information about supporting your child with their transition to secondary school.
There will be input from a school chaplain, a youth information officer and an adolescent psychotherapist, and a quick look at the Step Up website also.
The webinar is free and is organised as part of the statutory Planet Youth project.
The link to register is https://shorturl.at/GlHDD
Tuesday 13th May 2025 @ 7pm:
Transition to Primary School
(for parents of pupils starting school in September)
Tuesday 13th May 2025 @ 7pm
Transition to Post Primary School for Pupils with SEN
A Support Session for Parents
Wednesday 21st May @ 7pm:
Dyslexia Demystified: Understanding your Child's Learning Difference
The HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, April 30th, from 12 noon to 1.00pm, as part of the 2025 SunSmart campaign on ‘SunSmart for Parents- - Protect children’s skin from sunburn and sun damage’.
The webinar is being held as part of the annual SunSmart campaign which runs from April to September.
Register Here
Recommendation for inclusion of a wide-brimmed hat in primary school uniform guidance_NCCP_Healthy Ireland.pdf
Looking for a fun and engaging activity for your kids this Easter break? Our LUASCA Golf Easter Camp is the perfect opportunity to introduce them to the world of golf in a relaxed and friendly setting!
Camp Details:
Dates: April 16th - 18th
Location: LUASCA Golf Oranmore (Above Tesco)
Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Cost: €100 per child (Sibling discounts - €90)
Our camp is designed for kids of all skill levels, offering expert coaching led by Shane Franklin, fun games, and a chance to make new friends. Whether they’re beginners or budding pros, they’ll have a blast!
Spaces are limited, so be sure to secure your spot early.
BOOK NOW – contact Shane at shane@luascagolf.ie
We look forward to seeing you there!
Best regards,
Tom
LUASCA Golf
091 388655
Special Education Teaching Support in Primary Schools Guide for Children Leaflet 2.pdfSpecial Education Teaching Support in Primary Schools Guide for Children.pdfcyberkidsguideParents24Settings.pdf
The HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast has returned with a ‘Back to School’ theme, focussing on providing support to parents as young people return to school.
Their recent episodes include ‘Back to School’, ‘Healthy Lunchboxes for Kids’, and ‘Screen Time for Young People’. These episodes provide useful tips and advice for parents and caregivers of young people on a variety of topics that families face and are available on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and on the HSE Health and Wellbeing YouTube Channel.
2024-Tips-for-Parents-English.pdf
Your Child’s Learning: Guidelines for Parents
This information booklet from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is intended to inform parents about the primary school curriculum and how parents can support this at home – Download
Tip Sheet on Play for Parents of Young Children
This tip sheet from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is aimed at parents of children 2½-6 years old. It explains how children learn through play and gives suggestions of simple games and activities that can be done at home – Download
Parents Complaints Procedure
This information leaflet has been developed by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) and the Primary School Management (CPSMA) representatives reached and outlines the procedures to be followed when dealing with complaints by parents against teachers. The purpose of the procedure is to facilitate the resolution of difficulties where they may arise in an agreed and fair manner – Download
A Parent’s Guide to New Media Technologies
This leaflet aims to make parents aware of how new media works and encourage them to engage with, and use, new technologies with their children. This will help keep children safe when they are using technologies from digital games, mobile phones to the computer – Download
A Parent’s Guide to Filtering Technologies
This information booklet for parents aims to help provide an understanding of the benefits of filtering to help protect children online. The booklet contains advice for parents on supervising children’s Internet use and the use of filtering technologies. Download
A Parents’s Guide to Social Networking
This booklet for parents aims to provide information to help understand the world of social networking websites (SNW) with their children. The booklet explains the world of SNW, the risks and what to look out for on a child’s profile Download
Webwise 10 Tips for Parents
This leaflet from Webwise contains practical advice for parents to engage in their children’s online experiences. It recognises that parents are key actors in fostering an ethos of positive use of the Internet by young people. Download
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