Foxfield Special School

St. Michael's House Special School Foxfield is committed to fostering a culture of respect, acceptance, and understanding. It provides a safe, nurturing environment that prioritizes the social, emotional, and academic growth of every child through an individualized approach tailored to unique strengths and needs.

The school provides an individualized curriculum designed to unlock the full potential of each student. Learning is delivered within specialized classroom settings, with staff working closely with families to ensure that specific educational and care requirements are met for every pupil.

The school employs a highly trained team of teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) who work collaboratively to provide individualized care and education. The staff includes a dedicated behaviour analyst and utilizes Lámh, a manual sign system, to support communication and learning for students.

The school accepts applications for the upcoming academic year during a designated window, typically opening in October and closing in January. Applicants must provide a psychologist's report less than two years old confirming a dual diagnosis of autism/ASD and a moderate or severe/profound intellectual disability. Additionally, all applications require a letter of eligibility for placement in a special school from a Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO).

The school operates on a standard academic calendar with events and activities scheduled throughout the year. Parents and stakeholders can access the school's schedule via an integrated calendar on the website, which supports synchronization with Google and Apple Calendar platforms.

The school operates across two campuses: the Kilbarrack Campus located at Briarfield Villas in Raheny, Dublin 5, and the Swords Campus situated in the Swords Enterprise Park. Both sites are equipped with specialized classrooms, such as the Rainforest, Savannah, Arctic, Coral Reef, Sky, Woodland, Meadow, Forest, Mountain, Ocean, Sunset, Jungle, and Starlight rooms, to support the diverse needs of the student body.

Pupils engage in a variety of enrichment activities designed to support social and sensory development. Recent examples include themed learning experiences such as World Bee Day, which incorporated art and sensory play, as well as classroom-based projects exploring geography and seasonal celebrations.