G.E.L.I
Greenmount Early
Learning Initiative

The Greenmount Early Learning Initiative, GELI, is located in Scoil Mhuire na n-Grás N.S. in one of the oldest areas of Cork city. The school is also home to the Greenmount Community Playgroup. The initiative came from the Cork City Partnership (CCP) as an extension of the Preventative Education Programme. The overall aim of the Preventative Education Programme is to combat early school leaving.

Prior to the establishment of the GELI, the project had focused on the 8-13 age group. In a review of that Programme, early intervention was identified as essential. CCP obtained funding from Area Development Management (ADM) in December 2000 for the GELI. Prior to the commencement of the GELI, extensive consultation took place among all stakeholders in keeping with the CCP’s commitment to partnership, consultation and participation.

The children from the Greenmount Community Playgroup feed into the primary school, making it an ideal context for the development of a transition project. The Project engaged in extensive consultation with the staff from the Infant classes and the Playgroup to identify common concerns. The children’s oral language development emerged as an identified need, within the larger context of school readiness.

A Working Group of Junior Infant Teachers and Playgroup Leaders implemented the Project’s aim of supporting the children’s transition from the Playgroup into the Infant classes. Consultation with the children brought about the development of the Outdoor Learning Area. The children were involved in both planning and implementation with the support of a landscape gardener.

The focus of activity was on working towards developing a programme for oral language development, supported by the development of the Outdoor Learning Area, alongside professional development and the development and acquisition of resources. A common approach was developed between the two settings of Playgroup and Infabt classroom towards oral language development.