TheWillowsOutdoorPreschool
Outdoor preschool located in Abbeyknockmoy, Co. Galway, for children aged two to six. ****Forest school in practice, five days a week, on ground that belongs to the setting rather than to a timetable.
What a day looks like
Forest school in practice, five days a week, on our own ground.
Layers, waterproofs and wellies
Plus spare everything. The kit list has the full run of it. [VERIFY drop-off times, the arrival routine and what we provide]
Mud, trees, real tools and weather
The ground is ours, which is why the day can be built around it rather than around a room. Educators prepare the ground before the children reach it. [VERIFY where the day starts and what is usually set up on the ground]
Aistear, the national curriculum
Aistear is the national early childhood curriculum framework, which Sharon helped update at the NCCA. [VERIFY how sessions, meals and rest are structured through the day]
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:30pm
Full day and sessional places both run here. [VERIFY hours, sessional times and weeks open per year]
The ground the day is built on.
The Willows is registered at Newtown for 77 children, as both a full day and a sessional service. The ground is ours, which is what makes an outdoor day possible five days a week rather than on the good ones.
Ages, hours and how a place works.
Both settings are currently full. The list is for future years, and we tell families plainly where they stand on it rather than keeping them guessing.
Two to six years, as listed on the Early Years Register.
Registered for 77 children, full day and sessional.
Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6.30pm. [VERIFY hours, sessional times and weeks open per year]
[VERIFY how many weeks a year this service runs, and the holiday closures]
The free ECCE preschool year would run here. [VERIFY whether we are a registered ECCE provider and which sessions we offer]
The NCS applies to this age group. [VERIFY our provider registration]
Full. Families can join the list for future years, and the list is the only way in.
Tusla Early Years Register, TU2015GY199.
Dr Sharon Skehill, founder and Early Years Principal.
Newtown, Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, Co. Galway. [VERIFY Eircode]
Aistear, the national early childhood curriculum framework, which Sharon helped update at the NCCA.
Layers, waterproofs and wellies, plus spare everything. See the kit list. [VERIFY what we provide]
Registration details are from the Tusla Early Years Register for Galway, February 2026.
Come and stand
in the field.
Visits are by arrangement, for families and for educators from other settings alike. Enquiries go to Aishling and Sharon.