Kilbarron National School

Section A. General Information

General Introduction

This Admission policy is being set out in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act (1998) and the Education Welfare Act 2000.  The Board of Management trusts that by so doing parents will be assisted in relation to admission matters.  The chairperson of the Board of Management, Mrs. Sharon Kennedy and the School Principal, Kevin Connolly, will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy.

 

School Name                           Scoil Náisiúnta Chill Barfhionn

School Address                       Nenagh, Co. Tipperary

Telephone No.                                    067 – 28144

Website                                    www.kilbarronnationalschool.scoilnet.ie

Email                                       kilbarronns@eircom.net

Denominational Character:    Roman Catholic

Patron:                                    Bishop of Killaloe

Teachers in the School:          Principal, 2 Class Teachers and Special Education Needs Teacher

Range of Classes Taught:      Junior Infants to 6^th class – Co-educational

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).

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

While recognizing the rights of parents to enroll their child in the school of their choice, the Board of Management is also responsible to respect the rights of the existing school community and in particular the children already enrolled. This requires balanced judgments, 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 reserves the right to determine the maximum number of children in each separate classroom bearing in mind:

• Size of/ available space in classrooms
• Educational needs of children of a particular age
• Multi-grade classes
• Presence of children with special educational/behavioural needs

Section B. Admission Procedures

Application Procedure

Parents who wish to enroll pupils in Junior Infants will be required to come to the school where they will receive an Application for Enrolment form. Enrolment will take place during the second term. The Board will communicate to the School community through appropriate channels e.g. school website, letter home from Pre-School, local media, Newsletter, and Church announcements – outlining the application for enrolment procedures.

Provision of Key Information by Parents

Certain information will be required when children are being enrolled.  The Board will provide the sample enrolment application form attached for this purpose.

Decision Making

The Board of Management in accordance with school policy makes decisions in relation to applications for enrolment.  The Board will notify parents of their decision within 21 days of receiving a fully completed Application for Enrolment form (as per Education Welfare Act 2000).

The Board will have regard for relevant Department of Education and Science guidelines in relation to class size and staffing provisions and/or any other relevant requirements concerning accommodation, including physical space and the health and welfare of children.

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.

In the event that applications for enrolment exceed/are 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 and sisters (including step-siblings, resident at the same address) of children already enrolled – priority will be given to the oldest
• Ages of the children
• 5% of places will be reserved for children of ethnic minorities
• Children living within the parish of Terryglass/Kilbarron
• Children of current school staff

Admission Day/Date

Junior Infants will be admitted to the school on 1^st day of the new term.

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 Department of Education and Science 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 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 or psychologist, as appropriate.

It may be necessary for the Board of Management to defer enrolment of a particular child pending the receipt of an assessment report.

The Board of Management recognises it as being crucial that the Department of Education and Skills provide any and such resources as identified in the psychological and/or medical report to meet the needs specified in such reports. It would be most desirable that such resources would be provided prior to enrolment and therefore be in place for the child from the outset.

Pupils Transferring

Pupils may transfer to the school at any time, subject to school policy, available space and in some cases, the approval of the Department of Education and Science.  It is a requirement of the Board of Management that information concerning attendance and the child’s educational progress be communicated between schools as per Education Welfare Act 2000.

Code of Behaviour

Children enrolled in our school are required to co-operate with and support the school’s Code of Behaviour as well as all other policies on curriculum, organisation and management. The Board places responsibility on Parents/Guardians for ensuring that their child co-operates with said policies in an age-appropriate way.

Section C. Appeals Procedure

1. Parents/Guardians will be informed in writing within 21 days as to whether or not their application for enrolment was successful or not.
2. Parents/Guardians will have 10 days within which they can appeal the decision of the Board of Management in writing.
3. The Board of Management will reply in writing to the appeal, stating the reason why the application for enrolment was unsuccessful, within 15 days of receiving said appeal.
4. Where a Board of Management refuses to enroll a student in a school, the parents have a statutory entitlement under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998, as amended, to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of the Department of Education & Skills.

This Admissions Policy was reviewed by the Board of Management on 4^th April 2017.