About Us

About Us

Welcome

Altram is the regional support group for Irish-medium early years providers. 

It was founded in 1990 by local preschool practitioners in Derry, Belfast, Armagh and Newry.

Altram was established to:

  • Support Irish-medium early years providers
  • Improve the standard of provision in the sector
  • Promote the importance of Irish Medium early years education

Altram works closely with sectoral groups and external bodies in order to support both existing and emerging naíscoileanna, and provide a voice for Irish Medium Early Years.

Altram has

Years of experience
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Altram supports

Children in their learning
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Altram advises

Practitioners
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Our Aims and Objectives

Facts About Us

Offering support, training and advice

Altram offers support, training and advice to the growing Irish language early years provision, including parents and management committees. 

Developing quality Irish-medium early years provision

Altram aims to develop quality Irish-medium early years provision as a foundation for the Irish language community and Irish medium education.

Encourage and support parental participation

Altram encourages and supports active parental participation in the child’s Irish immersion early education. 

Strong voice for early years Irish-medium sector

Altram provides a strong voice for the early years Irish-medium sector. It seeks to influence and shape policy by developing effective partnerships with a range of relevant educational and social care bodies. They include key stakeholder groups such as DE, ETI, HSCB, Childcare Partnerships, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta.

Working closely with sectoral groups and external bodies

Altram works closely with sectoral groups and external bodies in order to support both existing and emerging naíscoileanna, to ensure high quality and supporting settings in maintaining compliance with legislative requirements.

Provide an online portal for resources

Our website is an online portal for resources which will provide support to naíscoil practitioners, management, parents and children.

Our Mission:

To promote Irish medium early education, ensuring high-quality sustainable provision, and supporting positive outcomes for children and families

Meet our Team

Altram’s team has a wealth of experience from the Irish medium education sector.
The team is made up of our Manager, and our Early Year’s Specialist team, of which there are 4, our Regional Capacity Officer, our Qualification Development Officer and our Administrator.
Aisling was appointed Altram manager in November 2019.  She worked as an early years specialist for Altram since 2008 and has extensive expertise and experience in the Irish-medium education sector.
Aisling Walls
Manager

Danny is our Regional Capacity Officer. He provides support and advice to Irish Medium management committees and has worked in the sector for 30 years.

Danny Cassidy
Regional Capacity Officer

Wendy is the Regional Irish-medium Early Years Programme Support Specialist for the Sure Start Developmental Programme for 2 – 3 year-olds and non-PSEP groups.

Wendy Mitchell
Early Years Specialist