A bright little girl who aced her IQ test may be forced to miss out on starting primary school later this month after being denied the full-time SNA (special needs assistant) that experts insist she requires.

“When the rain keeps coming down, it’s so boring.”

For teachers who welcome back the girls to classes at Scoil Aiséirí Chríost in Farranree, Cork City, next week, the differences will be noticeable in the dozens who were at the school’s summer camp to improve reading and maths skills.