Cystic Fibrosis Ireland Launches Schools and Cystic Fibrosis Toolkit to enhance educational experience of children with CF in Ireland
29th September 2025
Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI) has launched a new ‘Schools and Cystic Fibrosis’ toolkit to provide parents, carers, pre-schools, schools and individuals with guidance and resources to ensure children living with CF can meaningfully participate in early education.
The toolkit offers comprehensive guidance on how to discuss the diagnosis with school staff, ways to prevent and minimise exposure to infection, and provides support available to families beginning this journey.
It includes practical advice, templates, and examples to help families and pre/schools implement effective measures and considerations for managing Cystic Fibrosis in schools.
The launch took place on the 20th August and was attended by Better Start National Early Years Quality Development, a national initiative established by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) and hosted by Pobal. To launch the toolkit, Better Start presented the Access and Inclusion Model of Supports (AIMs) which are designed to provide universal and targeted supports to Early Learning and Care settings with a focus on the inclusion of the individual child.
Amy Keller, preschool teacher and Aunt to a child with CF stated, “I am a preschool teacher and my niece Hazel started school last year in my room. Despite having learned a lot about CF since Hazel was born, the journey of starting school was a whole new experience as a teacher and her auntie. It was great to have the support of CF Ireland when looking at new considerations that come with starting school. Having a resource like the school support pack helped me share what we learned with other staff in my setting easily.
“Every child experiences CF differently so it's also great to have the school support plan included, which allows parents to individualise information that suits their child. It also helps open up conversations between parents and teachers which are important as your child learns and grows. As she moves on this year to a different room, this information can follow along and make the transition for her and her new teachers smoother. Starting school can be an anxious time, especially as it could be the child's first time away from their parents so having resources like this can help a lot.”
The toolkit was compiled in partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Ireland Members Services team, Educators, healthcare workers, and families affected by CF, and is available for download from Cystic Fibrosis Ireland website www.cfireland.ie
For more information on the Access and Inclusion Model of Supports (AIMs) , visit Access and Inclusion Model - Better Start.
