Admission Policy of St

Enrolment/Admission Policy of St. Mary’s National School, Fairview.

Phone/Fax (01) 8377551

Email:

Introduction

The Board of Management formulated this policy to assist parents/guardians with all enrolment matters. In this document parents will include guardians. Parents who need further clarification on any matter can contact the principal, Eibhlín McGarry or the school secretary, Catherine Maguire.

Ethos

St Mary’s N. S. is a Catholic school under the trusteeship and patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. It is managed by a Board of Management. The Board preserves, maintains and supports the Catholic ethos of St. Mary’s. It promotes the role played by the patron of the school in its daily life.

The Department of Education and Science funds the school (though not fully) and sets down guidelines from time to time. The Board operates within these guidelines and it also complies with legislation as enacted and in particular the provisions of:

• The Education Act 1998
• The Education and Welfare Act 2000
• The Equal Status Act 2000
  

Vision

Our vision is to enable the pupils in our care to achieve their maximum potential throughout the various stages in their growth and development.

We aspire to equip them with the skills necessary to live a full life in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex world.

Aims

St. Mary’s aims, with the resources available, to provide an integrated and multi-dimensional curriculum designed to meet the intellectual, social, personal, religious, moral, physical and cultural needs of the pupils in a friendly environment where positive values are taught and re-enforced.

Rationale

Within the context of the Department of Education and Science regulations and programmes, the rights of the Trustees/Board of Management as set out in the Education Act 1998 (Section 15 (1), (2), and in a manner consistent with its ethos, vision and mission as stated St. Mary’s supports the following principles;

Inclusiveness with reference to the enrolment of children with a disability or other special educational need.

Equality of access and participation in the school.

Parental choice in relation to choice of school, having regard for the characteristic spirit of the school.

Respect for the diversity of values beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society

General Information

There are 15 teachers in the school. This includes the Principal teacher, 10 classroom teachers, 3 learning support teachers and 1 resource teacher.

The school enrols boys for Junior Infants to First class and girls for Junior Infants to 6th Class.

The school depends on the grants and teacher resources provided by the Department of Education and Skills. It operates within the regulations laid down from time to time by the Department. All school policy has regard to the resources and funding available.

The school follows the curricular programmes prescribed by the Department of Education and Science, which may be amended from time to time. Accordingly the following subjects are taught in each class:

Religious Education (Catholic)
Languages
Gaeilge English
Mathematics
Social, environmental and scientific education
History / Geography / Science
Arts Education
Visual Arts / Music / Drama
Physical Education
Social Personal Health Education

Extra Curricular Activities

1. Camogie
   
2. Football
   
3. Basketball
   
4. Music: Violin and Tin whistle
   
5. Dancing/Drama/Concert
   
6. Homework club for senior pupils.
   

The extra curricular activities depend on the availability and skills of the teachers. Most take place in the school yard and therefore weather is always a determining factor.

Opening time

The school opens at 8.50am. The Board of Management accepts no responsibility or liability for any child before this time.

Closing time

1.30pm Junior and Senior Infants

2.30pm First to Sixth classes.

Breaks:

Morning Break: 10.30a.m. to 10.40a.m.

Lunch break: 12.00 to 12.30p.m.

School holidays:

• The schoolcloses for holidays in accordance with the rules set down by the Department of Education and Science. Parents are given a school calendar at the beginning of each school year, usually not later than the second week in September.
  
• Dismissal is at 12.00 on the day of the Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays.
  

Application Procedures

The following enrolment procedures apply.

• Parents/guardians who wish to enrol their child must make the application on the official application form endorsed by the school. (see copy of application attached)
  
• You may ring/email the school for this form, call to the school secretary or ask friend/relation/neighbour to collect an application form for you.
  
• All sections of the applications form must be completed and returned to the school by the last day of January of the year of entry. However late applications will be considered if there are places still available.
  
• We request applications be accompanied by the child’s Birth Certificate, PPS number, Baptismal Certificate where relevant, Passport for non Irish born children and any reports regarding the child’s development if available. Your child will be registered according to the details on the Birth Certificate.
  
• Ring the school secretary at 01837751 or email secretary@stmarysfairview if you wish to confirm we have received your application.
  
• You may be asked to bring your child to the school to meet the principal.

• On application for a place at St. Mary’s your child’s name will be placed on a “List of Applicants to Enrol”

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While recognising the right of parents to enrol their child in the school of their choice, the Board of Management of St. Mary’s is also responsible to respect the rights of the existing school community and in particular the rights of children already enrolled. This requires balanced judgements, which are guided by the principles of natural justice and acting in the best interest of all children. Assisting the school in such circumstances, the Board of Management, with due regard for the Parton’s wishes, reserves the right to determine the maximum number of children in each separate classroom bearing in mind:

• Size/availability of space in classrooms
• Availability of grants and teacher resources provided by the DES
• Educational needs of children of a particular age
• Multi-grade classes
• Presence of children with special educational/behavioural needs
• DES maximum class size directives

Priority

All decisions in relation to applications for enrolment will be made by the Board of Management in accordance with school policy.As a general principle all children who apply for admission will be enrolled. However should a situation arise in the future where the numbers applying for enrolment exceeds the number of places available the following priorities will apply.

1. Catholic children living within the boundaries of the Parish of Fairview and siblings of current students.

1. Brothers and sisters of former pupils of the school.

1. Children of staff members.
   
2. Other children living within the boundaries of the Parish of Fairview.
   
3. Other children living outside the Parish of Fairview.

Should the number in any one priority category, when added to the numbers in the previous category, exceed the total number of places available or maximum size as set down by the Board of Management, then the applications within this category will be processed firstly with reference to gender balance, and secondly with preference given to older children.

Children who are not offered a place at the school may, at the request of the parents/guardians, be placed on a waiting list for admission should a place become available at a later date.

Procedure for Enrolment

• Early applicants will be contacted by the school in January to confirm their interest in a place for their child in August/September.
  

• Places will be offered and confirmed to parents by mid February.
  
• Late applications will be considered but only if places are available after the first round of offers.
  
• In March parents will receive a letter requesting them to attend an information evening. This meeting will be held not later than 30th April. If parents/guardians do not attend this meeting or fail to make contact with the school it will be assumed they are no longer interested the place for their child. This place will be offered to the next child on the waiting list.
  
• At the information night all parents/guardians will be given information about the school, school policies and structures. An information pack, which will include details about the school, uniforms, and lunches, will also be provided. This meeting is addressed by the principal and at least one other senior member of the teaching staff.

• Please inform the school as soon as possible if you are not accepting the place being offered. Places not taken up will be offered to the next child on the waiting list.
  

• All new entrants will be invited to the school for an afternoon in June to meet a teacher and see their classroom.

Dates of Admission

All children will be admitted to the school on the first day of the new school year in August/September.

Children will not be admitted into Junior Infants on or after the 1st October except where such a child is enrolled in and transferring from another school.

Age Requirements

Under the rule for National Schools a child must have reached the age of 4 years before they may be enrolled in a Primary School. Accordingly St Mary’s will accept applications in respect of any child who has reached 4 years or who will be 4 years on or before August 28th of the relevant school year.

Enrolment of Children with Special Needs.

In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with special needs, the Board of Management may request a copy of the child’s medical and /or psychological and /or Speech and Language report if such report exists. Where such a report is not available it may request that the child be assessed immediately. This is the responsibility of the child’s parents/guardians. (Seeform “Information Regarding Pupils with Special Educational Needs” copy attached)

The purpose of the assessment report is to assist the school in establishing the educational and training needs of the child relevant to his/her disability or special needs and to profile the support services required. All assessments and reports must be submitted to the school by March 1st as applications by the school for extra supports from the Department of Education and Skills must be submitted by mid March.

The school reserves the right to refuse enrolment to any student in exceptional cases.

Such an exceptional case could include the following:

1. The student has special need such that, even with additional resources available from the Department of Education and Skills, the school cannot meet such needs and / or provide the student with appropriate education.
   
2. In the opinion of the Board of Management, the student poses an unacceptable risk to the other students, to school staff or school property.

Admission to other classes

Pupils may transfer from another school into any class at the beginning or during the school year subject to this school policy and to the availability of a place in the relevant class.

The following criteria will apply:

• The transfer is in agreement with this admission policy
• It is in the best interests of the child
• It is in the best interests of the school
• It does not impact negatively on any child already enrolled in the school
• The parent/guardian makes all relevant information from the former school available
• Further information concerning the child’s attendance, behaviour and educational progress in the child’s former school may be sought by the principal and/or the class teacher.
  
• Where a child with special needs is transferring, parents will be required to provide information concerning the special educational needs of the child at his/her previous school. (See form entitled “Data required for child transferring from another school”copy appended)

Code of Behaviour.

The school has a comprehensive Code of Behaviour and Discipline together with an Anti-Bullying policy.

• These documents are attached to the admissions policy
• Parents/guardians are asked to read it and familiarise themselves with the contents.
• Parents/guardians are asked to explain it to their child and regular intervals during the year.

Parent/Guardian Consents

On enrolment we request parental consent for various activities their child may be engaging with while in St. Mary’s e.g. school tours, visits to the church, sporting events away from the school etc. (These are set out in the form “Parental Consents”, copy attached)

Right of Appeal

The Board of Management wishes to advise parents/guardians that in the event of their child not being offered a place at St. Mary’s an appeal may be made under Sec. 29 of the Education Act 1998.

Evaluation

This policy will be evaluated on an ongoing basis.

Review

This policy will be reviewed regularly and changes made where necessary in lightof ongoing evaluation.

Conclusion

We hope this policy will serve as a useful guide for parents/guardians when selecting a school for their child/ren.

Signed: Kevin O’Meara Date: 24th April 2013

Chairperson

APPLICATION FORM

Surname First Name

Surname on Birth Certificate First Name on Birth Certificate
Date of Birth Child’s P.P.S. Number Boy Girl

Child’s Address

Landline phone number Year you wish child to enrol
Mothers First Name Fathers Name
Mother’s Maiden Name
Contact Number Contact Number
Occupation Occupation
Marital Status Marital Status

Married, Widowed, Divorced, Separated, Single, Remarried, Co-habiting

Place of child in the family Number of brothers sisters

Has or had he/she a brother or sister in the school? Yes No

Please give details
Does any legal order under family law concerning the child exist?

Is your child attending school/playschool/Montessori/Creche at present? Yes No

Name of school Phone
Address
Current class Teacher

Is your child receiving support for any HSE agency eg: Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Early Intervention Team. Please circle YES NO If yes give details below:

Details of any illness/operation which may affect your child’s school life

Any other relevant information which may affect your child’s school life.
Signed: Mother Date
Signed: Father Date
Please turn page over
The following questions refer to the ethnic/cultural background and Religion of your child. This is part of the information The Department of Education and Skills wish to collect for the Primary Online Database which is currently being introduced to all schools in Ireland.
As this is sensitive personal data the school requires your consent to share it with The Department of Education and Skills.

What Nationality is your child?

What is the country of origin ethnic/cultural background of your family?
How long your child in Ireland? How long is the family in Ireland?
What Religion is your child/family: Please circle:
Agnostic
Apostolic or Pentecostal
Atheist
Baptist
Buddhist
Catholic
Church of Ireland (Protestant)
Presbyterian
Hindu
Jehovah’s Witness
Jewish
Lutheran
Methodist
Muslim (Islamic)
Orthodox (Greek, Coptic, Russian)
Other Religion, name......
No Religion
I consent to share the above information with The Department of Education and Skills
Parent/ Guardian______Date______
Parent/Guardian______Date______
Name and address and phone number of school attended in country of origin

How long was child attending school? What class/level was attained?

Childs English language level Good Fair Poor None

Is English spoken in the home? Always Sometimes Never

Birth Certificate, Passport or other official identification required received

Parental Consents

Name of Child: ______

I give consent to my child to go on school tours/trips/sporting events

I give consent to my child to take part in the Relationship and Sexuality Relationship (RSE) Programme prescribed by the Department and Science

I give consent to my child to participate in the Stay Safe Programme

I give consent to St. Mary’s to withdraw my child from the classroom for the purpose of learning/language support

I give consent to my child to go to church with his/her teacher and class

I give consent to St. Mary’s to take photographs of my child for school displays (individually and in groups)

I give consent to St. Mary’s to publish photographs of my child e.g. on the School Web-Site, Newsletter etc. (Child’s surname will not be published on the Web)

I give consent to my son/daughter to use the internet under the supervision of a teacher

I give consent to St. Mary’s to send my child to hospital in the event of an emergency where the parent or other contact persons cannot be contacted

Signed: ______Date: ______

(Parent

Data required for child transferring from another schoolLearning Support/Resource Teacher

Name:______D.O.B.__/__/__Teacher______

Previous School / Contact No.
Teacher
Principal
Previous Schools
Last Home Address
Attendance
Behaviour
Test Results
MIST
SIGMA
MICRA
Other
Learning Support
Assessments
Relevant Info.

Information Regarding Pupils with Special Educational Needs.

Name:______Class:______

Address:______Age:______

______

School: ______

Learning Support received from______to______

Area of Focus: ______

Resource Tuition received from ______to______

Area of Focus: ______

Special Needs Assistant support received from______to______

Area of Focus: ______

Special Class attended from______to______