The genesis of this project and the organisational structure that has advanced its aims began in 1996 with the establishment of an out of school service in the Cherry Orchard area. From April 1998 onwards, the founding group began to evolve into what became Cherry Orchard School Development, an Unincorporated Association with audited accounts, one manager, three full-time staff, four part-time staff and one volunteer. This group administered a broad remit that included the management of the after-school service, lobbying, planning and campaigning for a new Primary School with associated child care services, and acting as the advisory group for the design of the final project building.

In July 2006, with funding from the Department of Education and Science, a state-of-the-art building was completed with four units on the one campus.  These four units are

(a) Nursery and Early Education Unit

(b) Sixteen classroom Primary School

(c) Care unit facility that allows before school, in school, and out of school services to be provided for children and teenagers up to Leaving Certificate

(d) Canteen and catering facility available for all children attending the project.

In August 2006 the After-school Service (now referred to as the out of school service) moved into its new building, quickly followed by the Primary School which opened in September. Although the project did not have secure funding in its first year, in May 2007 the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) were requested by Government to co-ordinate the cross-departmental inputs to the project.  Later that same month, the then Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan T.D. announced the allocation of a significance funding package for the project. The vast majority of this funding comes from the OMCYA, the Department of Education and Science, the Department Social and Family Affairs and the National Childcare Investment Programme.  Smaller but significant funds are also provided through the Dublin City Council, City of Dublin Youth Services Board, private sponsors, fundraising and services income, a donation by the parish of Cherry Orchard and parent’s contributions.

Since it 2007, there have been many developments within the campus. In 2014 we built an additional unit which houses four extra classrooms, to cater for additional student populations.

Also in 2014, we started our Orchard Classes for children with Autism. These originally began in prefabs and in September 2017, moved into a purpose built unit.

In 2009 we began our community service programme, which provides catering and operational maintenance, reception & cleaning services to the campus. The programme employs local people and in 2011 started providing a hot meal for every child on campus. Today the programme provides over almost 100,000 hot meals annually.

In addition in 2016 we started providing a breakfast club every morning for children.

Music is a big part of life in St Ultans. The programme began in 2008 and today every child including early years receives free music lessons as part of their curriculum.

In 2011 we introduced restorative practice and are leaders in the local community of its use to resolve conflict peacefully.

In 2015 we became an Ashoka Change maker school, in recognition of our unique operating model.

In 2017, we established our parent’s breakfast programme, which is expanding annually.

In 2018 we introduced the two year Early Childhood Care & Education model (ECCE), expanding our capacity in early years, and in that year we also commenced the Parent Child Home Programme in conjunction with the National College of Ireland and Ballyfermot Chapelizod Partnership.