Ministers Naughton and Moynihan celebrate Record-Breaking Summer Programme as 40,000 Students participate 2025
- Published on: 10 March 2026
- Last updated on: 10 March 2026
Department Inspectorate publishes 'Confidence, Creativity and Connection Highlights from Summer Programme 2025.'
Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton TD and Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan, TD have welcomed the publication of the Inspectorate’s report on the Summer Programme 2025.
The summer programme, which is available to all schools, supports fairness, opportunity and meaningful engagement in education. In 2025, over 1,600 schools took part, providing programmes to more than 40,000 children and young people.
Minister Naughton said:
“It is truly heartening to read of the examples of high-quality learning experiences provided to children and young people during summer programmes in 2025. These examples reflect the dedication of schools, staff, families and communities to supporting children and young people with special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage. I want to express my deep appreciation to the organisers, managers and staff who deliver the summer programme each year. Their work fosters a sense of belonging and continuity that makes a real difference in the lives of children and young people. My hope is that the insights and very good-quality examples from this report will inspire even more schools to take part in the 2026 summer programme, helping us extend these benefits to even more children and young people.
"The increase in the numbers of schools participating reflect a shared commitment to inclusion and opportunity, and I am particularly heartened by the fact that over half of all special schools are now offering a summer programme. Building on this momentum, I remain dedicated to working closely with all partners and stakeholders to further expand the number of schools offering this valuable programme in the years ahead, ensuring even more young people and their families can benefit from its positive impact.”
The Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan, TD, said:
"Having visited a number of schools last year during the Summer Programme, I have seen first-hand the wonderful opportunities it offers children and young people. It is such an important part of the school year for so many students and families. I sincerely thank all schools and their staff that take part in the Summer Programme as they are the ones that make this a reality for thousands.
"In that regard, I'm not surprised to see that the Inspectorate report highlights the powerful and lasting benefits of the summer programme for children and young people, particularly those with special educational needs. It shows how strengthened friendships, growing confidence and renewed engagement in learning supported children and young people, not only throughout the summer but also in their return to school in September. It is a perfect example of why more schools will hopefully take part in the Summer Programme this year.”
The Inspectorate report presents seven examples of very good-quality learning experiences observed by inspectors during summer programme visits. These examples focus on five areas: Promoting agency, Exploring and learning in the local community, Using digital technology, Supporting educational transitions and Responsive active learning experiences. The report concludes with advice for summer programme organisers and school staff who are preparing for the summer programme in 2026. Schools that would like to explore how they might develop similar high-quality experiences for children and young people on the 2026 summer programme are also invited to contact the Inspectorate for support with this process.
Publishing the report, Chief Inspector, Yvonne Keating, said:
“Children and young people learn most effectively when they have choice and can engage playfully and with curiosity. I am delighted to publish this summer programme report, which celebrates the powerful impact of the summer programme on children and young people, showcasing how it boosted their enthusiasm for learning, built agency and supported continuity with normal schooling. The very good-quality examples, which were drawn from primary, post-primary and special school summer programmes, reflect activities that were thoughtfully planned and executed, giving every child and young person the best opportunity to advance their learning, develop new skills and experience success.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the teachers, school leaders, programme managers, organisers, children and young people who generously shared their experiences and perspectives on the summer programme with inspectors. Their contributions are invaluable and their dedication adds real depth to this work. We look forward to strengthening this partnership and continuing our support for the summer programme in 2026.
"This report is published as part of the Inspectorate’s commitment to promoting excellence and to supporting school leaders and staff to continue to build confidence and connections on future summer programmes. The Inspectorate remains committed to working closely with all stakeholders to drive this important initiative forward and to ensure even more children and young people benefit in the years ahead.”
The full report is available at: Inspectorate publications
For further information please email Inspectorate_Summerprogramme@education.gov.ie
Further information:
- Starting in 2021, all mainstream primary and post-primary schools and all special schools have the opportunity to offer a school-based summer programme.
- The primary aim of the programme is to help children and young people to realise their potential, to be resilient in dealing with the normal stress of their lives, to take care of their physical wellbeing and to have a sense of purpose, connection and belonging to their school community. The programme also provides children and young people with opportunities to develop new skills and strengthen friendships, supporting a smoother return to learning in September.
- Almost 41.000 children and young people participated in the summer programme in 2025. This represents an increase of over 25,000 since the programme began in 2021. Over 1,600 schools offered the summer programme in 2025. This represents an increase of over 700 schools since 2021.
- During the summer of 2025, inspectors visited 123 of the summer programmes.
- The report published today presents examples of very good-quality learning experiences that inspectors observed during these visits. The examples are drawn from primary, post-primary and special schools. The examples illustrate how the programme helped the children and young people engage in learning and how it enhanced their sense of confidence, creatively and connection.