Section A. General Information

General Introduction

This enrolment policy is being set out in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act (1998). The Board of Management trusts that by so doing, parents will be assisted in relation to enrolment matters. The chairperson of the Board of Management, or the principal teacher, will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy.

School Name: St Egney’s NS

School Address: Desertegney, Linsfort, Buncrana.

Telephone No: 074 9362008

Denominational Character: Roman Catholic

Name of Patron: Reverend Dr. Seamus Hegarty.

Total Number of Teachers in the School: At present we have a teaching principal, 2 assistant class teachers and a learning support teacher. The learning support teacher is based in our school.

Range of Classes Taught: Our school caters for all classes from infants to 6th class. Allocation of classes is dependent on enrolment in that year. As this is a small school children are taught in multi-class settings. Each teacher will teach 2/3 classes, dependent on numbers. Occasionally, due to class sizes, it may be necessary to split a class.

The school depends on the grants and teacher resources provided by the Department of Education and Science and it operates within the regulations laid down, from time to time, by the Department. 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, in accordance with Sections 9 and 30 of the Education Act (1998).

The school is also governed by the Child Protection Act (1998)

Within the context and parameters of Department regulations and programmes, the rights of the patron as set out in the Education Act (1998), and the funding and resources available, the school supports the principles of

• Inclusiveness, particularly 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 enrolment; and
• Respect for diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society.

School opening times

St Egney’s N.S. starts at 9.20 am and school finishes at 3 p.m.

The infant day is from 9.20 to 2.00, as required by the Department of Education. Parents are asked to co-operate with the school and ensure their children arrive to school for 9.20 and are collected from school at the appropriate times.

Section B. Enrolment Procedures

Application Procedure

• Notification of enrolment will be posted in local church newsletters, school newsletters and local media (Inishowen Independent and/or Inish Times). This generally happens before the Easter holidays.
• Parents should contact the school to request an application form for enrolment.
• Parents should complete the application form and return the form to the school accompanied by a birth certificate and baptism form (where applicable).This form is copied and kept on file for sacraments.
• The application forms are given to the secretary and returns recorded. The principal reads all documentation. If there are any queries or specific requirements the principal meets with the parents to discuss the child’s needs. (See also enrolment of children with SEN)
• If the principal/BOM are happy that all forms are complete and all documentation is received, a copy of the Code of Behaviour is given to the parents to read and to sign.
• A letter is sent to parents to confirm enrolment.

Provision of Key Information by Parents

Certain information will be required when children are being enrolled. A specific enrolment application form is provided by the Board for this purpose.

• Pupil’s name, age and address;
• Pupil’s PPS number;
• Names and addresses of pupil’s parents/guardians;
• Occupation of parents (for school register);
• Contact telephone numbers;
• Contact telephone numbers in case of emergency;
• Place of baptism and year of baptism;
• Previous school attended phone number and roll number;
• Number of children in the family and place in the family;
• Details of any medical conditions which the school should be made aware of;
• Any other relevant information (including any such further information as may be prescribed under the Education Welfare Act (2000) or Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004).

Decision Making

• Equality of access is the key value that determines the enrolment of children in our school.
• While recognising the rights of parents to enrol their child in the school of their choice, the BOM of St Egney’s N.S. is also responsible for respecting the rights of the existing school community and in particular children already enrolled in the school. This requires balanced judgements, which are guided by the principles of natural justice and acting in the best interest of all the children. Assisting the school in such circumstances, the BOM reserves the right to determine the maximum number of children in each separate classroom bearing in mind:
• Size of available space in the classroom
• Educational needs of children of a particular age
• Multi-grade classes
• Presence of children with special educational or behavioural needs
• DES maximum class size (at present St Egney’s NS is full at 81 pupils, this is subject to change)
• Availability of support services (allocated by the DES)
• The Board is bound by the Department of Education and Science’s Rules for National Schools which provides that pupils may only be enrolled from the age of 4 years and upwards, though compulsory attendance does not apply until the age of 6 years.
• Junior Infants are enrolled in September provided the child has reached his/her 4th birthday before September 1st. Junior Infants will not be enrolled during the year unless they are transferring from another school. This is for educational reasons as it is necessary for a child to complete a full year in Junior Infants.
• It is required that children be toilet-trained and able to dress themselves, before enrolling in the school.

Decisions in relation to applications for enrolment are made by the Board of Management in accordance with school policy.  The Board will notify parents of their decision re enrolment in writing.

As a general principle and in so far as practicable having regard to the school’s enrolment policy, children will be enrolled on application, provided that there is space available. (See note below on Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004).

In the event that applications for enrolment exceed/is expected to exceed the number of places available, the following decision making process will apply.  The Board will exercise its discretion in the application of the following criteria.  The criteria may include any of the following though not necessarily in that order:

• Brothers/sisters of the proposed new entrant already in the school;
• Children of staff members;
• Catholic children resident within the parish;
• All children resident within the parish;
• Children, whose home address is closest to the school if the child normally lives outside the parish.

Appeals

If the BOM refuses admission to the school, parents have a right to appeal the decision to the Board of Management. This appeal must be addressed, in writing to the chairperson of the Board, stating the grounds for appeal, and lodged 10 days after receiving the refusal. Parents, if unhappy with the result of the appeal may appeal to the Department of Education and Science under Section 29 of the Education Act. Full details are provided on the DES website – www.education.ie.

A copy of the appeals document is available in the school plan. This appeal must be lodged within 42 days of receipt of the refusal from the school to enrol.

Enrolment of Children with Special Needs

In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with special needs, the Board of Management will request a copy of the child’s medical and/or psychological report, or where such a report is not available, will request that the child be assessed immediately.  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.

Following receipt of the report, the Board will assess how the school can meet the needs specified in the report.  Where the Board deems that further resources are required, it will, prior to enrolment, request the Special Education Needs Organiser (NCSE see Circular 01/05) to provide the resources required to meet the needs of the child as outlined in the psychological and/or medical report.  These resources may include for example, access to or the provision of any or a combination of the following: visiting teacher service, resource teacher for special needs, special needs assistant, specialised equipment or furniture, transport services or other.

The school will meet with the parents of the child and with the SENO to discuss the child’s needs and the school’s suitability or capability in meeting those needs.  Where necessary, a full case conference involving all parties will be held, which may include parents, principal, class teacher, learning support teacher, special class teacher, resource teacher for special needs, Special Educational Needs Organiser or psychologist, as appropriate.

Exceptional Circumstances

The school reserves the right to refuse enrolment to a pupil in exceptional cases. Such an exceptional case would arise where either:

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

Pupils Transferring

Pupils other than Junior Infants wishing to enrol in the school will be registered during the school year – if they are newly resident in the area. In all other circumstances it is more suitable for pupils to wait until the following September before transferring between schools.

It is a requirement of the Board of Management that information concerning attendance and the child’s educational progress be communicated between schools. (Section 28, Education Welfare Act 2000)

Co-operation with School /BOM

Children enrolled in our school are required to co-operate fully with and support the school’s Code of Behaviour, Anti Bullying Policy and Healthy Eating Policy. Parents/guardians will be responsible for ensuring that their children co-operate with the school policies.

Policies will be revised from time to time.