Almost 110 Ukrainian children in Westmeath schools

Just under 110 Ukrainian children have gone on the rolls of schools in Westmeath since this country began accepting refugees from Ukraine, figures released by the Department of Education have shown.

At primary school level, the county has 76 Ukrainian children with 32 at post primary level.

Nationally, the conflict has seen 4,766 extra children enter the primary school syste and 2,031 additional post-primary students, making for a total of 6,797.

To assist with the transition of Ukrainian refugees and their families into Irish schools Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) are being operated by the 16 regional education and training boards around Ireland and staffed by regionally based education support personnel.

The department says the primary role of the REALT is to build on existing regional education support structures and the initial focus will be on assisting families in securing school places. REALT are also supporting schools in the area to meet the needs of these children as they emerge, advising and supporting the Department of Education in developing new capacity where required, and co-ordinating the provision of education services to schools and families across their defined area.

“These teams are ensuring that clear, accessible information flows are in place between schools, local education support services and national support structures in relation to people arriving from Ukraine,” the department says.