Naíonra
A (; plural: ) is an Irish medium playgroup for pre-school children, which follows the principle of Total Early Immersion. Definition. A "Naíonra" or "Naíscoil" is an Irish-medium pre-school in which a "Stiúrthóir", or Leader, speaks only Irish while interacting with the children, who are usually aged between 3 and 5 years of age. "Naíonraí" sessions usually last between 2 and 3.5 hours per day, which a child attends on a daily basis. The staff of the "naíonra" ensure every opportunity is made available to encourage the child's development physically, intellectually, creatively, aesthetically, socially, emotionally and linguistically . "Naíonraí" believe that the most suitable method of learning for children at this age is through the medium of play, and it is through this medium that every effort is made to assist in the holistic development of each child. Disambiguation. In Northern Ireland "Naíonra" specifically refers to Irish language childcare for 2–3 year olds, whereas "Naíscoil" (infant school) is the term used for the 3 hour sessional care for 3–5 year olds. History. The first "Naíonra" opened in 1968. In 1974 a voluntary organisation called Na Naíonra Gaelacha was established by Conradh Na Gaeilge with a view of promoting  Irish medium pre-school education throughout Ireland. In 1978 Bord Na Gaeilge (now Foras Na Gaeilge) was founded by the Irish Government to act as a directly funded body to promote the use of Irish in all facets of life on the Island. That year, "Na Naíonra Gaelacha" was absorbed by "Bord Na Gaeilge," and renamed "An Comhchoiste Réamhscolaíochta" and were funded to carry out their mission". Na Naíonra Gaelacha" remit changed and they remain active as a networking organisation for all the Irish language preschool providers on the Island. They organise annual events like 'Lá Na Naíonra' in May  and an annual conference 'Comhdháil na Naíonra Gaelacha' on the first Saturday of October. "Altram" was established in 1990 by childcare providers in Belfast and Derry to oversee the development of the Irish language childcare sector in Northern Ireland and continue to this day. But in the Republic of Ireland a further change in 2003 would see "An Comhchoiste Réamhscolaíochta" replaced by two separate organisations in order to better focus efforts on Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht regions. In 2003, "Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta" (FNT) became the successor to "An Comhchoiste", (which in turn was succeeded by Gaelscoileanna in 2015) while "Comhar  Naíonraí na Gaeltachta" was established in 2004 by "Údarás na Gaeltachta" to operate in the Gaeltacht regions. In a controversial move by Foras Na Gaeilge to concentrate the work of 19 Irish language organisations to 6, entitled "An Samhail Nua Maoinithe", FNT had their funding withdrawn in June 2015 and the overseeing and the development of Gaelic preschool care in Ireland was passed to Gaelscoileanna. On top of this they were also given responsibility for primary and secondary schooling in the Gaeltacht regions. In view of their greater responsibility "Gaelscoileanna" was rebranded as "Gaeloideachais" meaning Gaelic education. Responsibilities for the  overseeing and development of Irish language early childhood care remained with "Comhar Naíonra na Gaeltacht" in the Gaeltacht regions and with "Altram" in the 6 counties. These organisations provide advice, training and grant aid to existing "naíonraí" and those interested in starting their own "naíonra". The Gaeloideachais website "(still www.gaelscoileanna.ie") contains an entire section dedicated to naíonraí with forums, grants, policies, an interactive naíonra finder map and advice on opening a naíonra. Number of Naíonraí. 327 is the total number of Naíonra / Naíscoileanna in the 32 counties of Ireland, with a further 30 other types of Irish language early childcare  services provided. Gaeloideachas have 203 naíonra under the stewardship . Comhar Naíonra na Gaeltacha have are 69 naíonra under their stewardship, with a further 18 other early childcare services including full day care and after school hour services. Altram have 49 naíscoil, 6 naíonra, 5 Sure Start programs and 1 full day child care under their stewardship.