Leir Education: A Journey of Growth and Excellence: Founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife duo Peter Donnelly and Rosa Terrassa, Leir Education began with summer language programs designed for Spanish children and adults to experience immersive learning in Ireland. Over the years, the success and organic growth of these initiatives led to the establishment of the Leir Language Academy, expanding the organization’s offerings to include the teaching of Spanish and English (ESL) alongside other educational pursuits.
Today, Leir Education offers a wide array of programs, including summer camps, year-round educational initiatives, Erasmus opportunities, work-experience placements, school stays, and homestay arrangements. All programs are underpinned by Leir Education’s core values of exceptional service, quality, safety, and care, ensuring enriching and transformative experiences for participants and partners alike.
Leir Education Launches ‘Spanish in Spain‘ Program: As 2024 comes to an end, Leir Education proudly unveils its highly anticipated Spanish in Spain program. This new initiative continues the tradition of immersive language education, now providing Irish students with the opportunity to enhance their Spanish proficiency in a vibrant, activity-based native setting.
In its dedication to excellence, Leir Education has also secured full membership in the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), becoming a fully bonded and licensed travel agent. This accreditation meets stringent Department of Education requirements for school tours and group travel, guaranteeing participants comprehensive financial and safety protections.
The Spanish in Spain program reflects Leir Education’s commitment to delivering engaging, high-quality, and culturally enriching educational experiences.
Dear Host-Family, thank you for considering hosting with us and by doing so offering them the opportunity to share your family life and experience. Your guest is going to stay a few weeks or months in our country to improve their English language and life experience. They have chosen to stay with a host family to ensure the best possible home-from-home experience.
We are grateful to you for helping your guest improve their knowledge of English by talking and encouraging them, most of all, helping your guest feel part of your family.
In the following pages, you will find answers to questions you are probably asking yourself and practical advice to help you in your task as a Leir host family partner. So please register, become a member and gain valuable insight into our organisation, who we are, and how good the experience can be.
What is Leir?
Leir is a Newbridge, Kildare-based educational organisation, established in 2013, we provide various language programmes for foreign students primarily in County Kildare. Our objective is to help our students improve and develop a better command of the English language, and a better knowledge of our country, culture and people. It’s all about a positive experience for all.
Who is your Guest?
This will always depend upon the program in which your guest is participating. We cater to childeren from the age of 11 up to Adults. As our programs vary from Summer language camps, a School term or full year, School tours or Work Placement Erasmus programs, your guest will be chosen based upon the suitability for both them, you and your family.
Of course, no distinction will be made on the grounds of colour, race or religion. We will always be on hand to offer support to you, your family and your students to ensure the best possible success as required.
Your Fee?
Payment of hosting fees will be by bank transfer and will be paid as per the schedule included in your “Welcome Pack” and to the bank details as specified by you. We please ask that you never discuss or mention any administrative matters in or in your student’s presence. On rare occasions, for various reasons, a student may have to be relocated. Leir Education reserves the right to do this and your fee will reflect the duration the student has spent with you.
The Host Family Application
Leir Education will come and visit you before your first hosting and annually thereafter. When requesting to receive a language student through Leir Education you will be required to go through our Host Family process which naturally as I’m sure you appreciate involves the completion of forms and the signing of agreements etc. and by doing so you are agreeing to comply in full with the necessary laws governing child care and welfare Acts.
For families who have hosted students previously, updating your host family data every year is compulsory. Please inform us if any information on your original host family application becomes inaccurate, e.g. change of status, address, number of residents in the home etc.
Also in line with current legislation, Leir Education requests that each family agree to Garda Vetting regardless of any previous applications. Thank you in advance for your co-operation.
We hope this snippet of information has gone someway in providing you with sufficient details and will help you evaluate the benefits of becoming a Leir Education host family. If you have any questions, require a ‘Host Family Guide’ or wish to officially register and become a Leir Education Host Family, please send an email to peter@leir.ie or register and of course please feel free to call Peter at 086-2653548