Launching pilot in Dublin schools April 2026

Emergency cover
in minutes,
not hours

First Bell connects Irish schools with verified substitute teachers before the first class starts. 

No more frantic phone calls at 6:30am to find a substitute before the bell rings.

Get early access → See how it works
<5 min
Target fill time
2 taps
To request cover
100%
Garda vetted

How it works

From missed call to confirmed cover

1

A teacher calls in sick

The school admin opens First Bell and taps "I need emergency cover." Selects the subject, level, and date.

30 seconds
2

We contact verified subs

Your preferred substitutes are notified first. If they can't make it, we expand to qualified subs nearby — automatically.

Under 2 minutes
3

First to accept gets the cover

Substitutes see the school, subject, and distance. One tap to accept. No double bookings — the system guarantees a booking.

1–3 minutes
4

Cover confirmed

The school gets the sub's name, Teaching Council number, and contact details instantly. The sub gets the address and directions.

Done before first bell

For schools

Stop the 6am scramble. Get reliable, vetted cover with two taps.

  • Request cover in under 30 seconds
  • Your favourites are contacted first
  • All subs Garda vetted and TC registered
  • Real-time status updates on your phone
  • Full audit trail for every booking

For substitutes

Get cover opportunities sent to your phone. Accept in one tap.

  • Notified of matching requests instantly
  • See school, subject, and distance upfront
  • Set your own availability and subjects
  • Build relationships with local schools
  • Free to join — always

Join the pilot

We're launching with a small group of Dublin-area schools. Register your interest and we'll be in touch.

You're on the list!

We'll be in touch when the pilot opens in your area.

First Bell is built by Irish Entrepreneur; Noel Davidson, who has worked in education for over 20 years and has a daughter who is a primary school teacher and described this problem many times at family dinners.  Noel has built this solution for Irish schools, who understands the morning scramble. 

All substitute teachers are Garda vetted and Teaching Council registered. 

Your data stays in the EU on secure infrastructure and is fully GDPR compliant..