
Nicola Thain grew up in Stornoway. She now lives in Point and her children, Harvi and Belle, attend Sgoil an Rubha.
“I’ve always wished my parents had put me through Gaelic Medium Education, but at the time, they worried that no one would be able to help me with my homework. When I started my own family, I felt strongly that if the opportunity allowed, my children would go through Gaelic Medium. I had the same concerns my parents had, but I knew the benefits of being bilingual far outweighed them.
My son went to Sgoil Àraich, where he thrived. He absolutely loved it, and the nursery staff were fantastic—so supportive and reassuring. Seeing how much he developed there made the decision to continue with Gaelic education much easier. My little girl attended Thig a’ Chluich classes every week, which gave her so much more confidence in Gaelic. Now, in Sgoil Àraich, she sings all her nursery rhymes in Gaelic, rarely in English. She surprises us with random Gaelic words—she’s just soaking it all in.
At first, I worried about how I would manage homework without being fluent in Gaelic myself. But there’s so much support available—online, through the school, and from other parents—I’ve never been stuck. In fact, my son now corrects my pronunciation and teaches me so much Gaelic! It’s incredible to hear him hold conversations in Gaelic and to see my daughter understand it when we’re out and about.
I always encourage friends and family to speak Gaelic to them, even if I don’t fully understand. Although I learned some Gaelic at school, no one ever spoke it to me, so I only picked up the bare minimum. Now, I try to create a Gaelic-rich environment at home with cartoons and songs. And as my little girl prepares to start school, I’ve noticed something wonderful—she and her brother have started playing and chatting together in Gaelic. Together, we’re all learning”.
Enrolment is now open for children entering nursery, P1 and S1 in Comhairle schools and centres for August 2025 onwards. Parents and carers should enrol eligible children by Friday 7th March 2025.