Enrolment policy

In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998 we entrust to parents that they will be assisted in relation to any enrolment matters. The chairperson of the Board of Management, the Board of Management Enrolment Officer, and the Principal, Skerries Educate Together National School will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from this policy.

General Information

The school will cater for children from Junior Infants to Sixth class. It is co-educational. The children are taught a wide range of subjects: Irish, English, Mathematics, Social, Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE – History Geography and Science), Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE – Personal Development, Health and Well-Being), Physical Education (P.E.) Music, Learn Together Curriculum (Ethics Curriculum taught in all Educate Together Schools),  Visual Arts, Drama and Information Communications Technology (ICT) to support the objectives of the Revised Primary Curriculum.

School begins at 8:30 a.m. and finishes at 2:10 p.m. and 1:10 p.m. for Infants. The school takes responsibility for children during this time.

The school depends on the grants and teacher resources provided by the Department of Education and Science. As a result we are obliged to respect this matter and operate within the regulations laid down by the Department. School policy must have regard to the resources and funding available.

Skerries Educate Together National 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.

While Skerries Educate Together National School works 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 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.

Decisions in relation to application for enrolment/admission are made by the Board of Management of the school in accordance with school policy.

Procedure for Enrolment

Parents/Guardians can obtain Enrolment/Admission Forms from the Enrolment Officer, Sharon Coady designated by the the Board of Management, or by picking up an Enrolment/Admissions Form from the school Principal.

Completed Enrolment/Admission Forms should be returned to:

Sharon Coady,
Skerries Educate Together National School,
Kelly’s Bay,
Skerries,
Co. Dublin

On receipt of completed enrolment/admission forms:

  1. The Enrolment Officer endorses each enrolment admissions form with an enrolment number. If more than one form is received on the same day they are ordered by post date on the envelope. Internet applications will be treated the same as postal applications where the date of sending is regarded as the postal date. If the post date is the same they are numbered according to the chronological age of the children seeking enrolment admission i.e. eldest child receiving priority. Skerries Educate Together recommend that children are 4 years old by 1st of May in the year they start school. However,  Junior Infants will be accepted at 4 years of age on or before 1stof September in that year.The Board of Management ask that parents are confident that their child is actually ready for school if they are so young when they begin their formal education with us.

    According to the school policy Skerries Educate Together National School is bound by the Department of Education and Science Rules for National Schools which provides that pupils may only be enrolled from the age of 4 years and upwards. Compulsory attendance does not apply until the age of six.

  2. Each child is placed on the list according to the enrolment admissions number. If parents have twins or triplets the children will be put on the list one after the other.
  3. Two lists will be kept for each year: a Junior Infant list and a non-Junior Infant list.  Children will be ranked in enrolment number order on these lists.
  4. No guarantee of places is given or implied by enrolment.
  5. Children will be offered places strictly following the ranking of the enrolment numbers on the enrolment list: that is places will be allocated on a First Come-First Served basis.
  6. The first round offer of places will be made by March 31st for September of the same year. At this stage two forms titled Enrolment Acceptance Form  will be provided and pupil information form if not already returned requiring the following information.
    • Pupils name, age and address
    • Names and addresses of Pupil’s parents/guardians
    • Contact telephone numbers
    • Contact name and telephone number in case of an emergency
    • Details of any medical conditions which the school should be aware of
    • Child’s Religion (if any optional)
    • Previous school attended, if any, and reasons for transfer, if applicable
    • Any other relevant information
    • Copy of Birth Certificate
  7. The Board of Management must be in receipt of written acceptance of an offer made within 14 days of the offer being made. The Enrolment Acceptance & Pupil Information Form referred to in 6 above and a copy of the child’s Birth Certificate must be returned at this stage. The parents’/guardians’failure to respond within 14 days will result in their child’s place on the enrolment list being forfeited.
  8. Parents/Guardians enrolling Junior Infants may defer the child’s place for one year, providing the child will be under six by September 30th of the year that he/she starts school. This means that the child will be placed on the list for the following year according to the original enrolment number. This does not guarantee an offer of a place, as places will be allocated strictly following the ranking of the enrolment numbers on the enrolment list.
  9. Junior Infants who have taken up an offer of a place in the school and defer after the school year has begun will be treated as if the deferral had taken place before actual enrolment. Junior Infants actual enrolment may be deferred for a maximum of one year. Placement orders on the following year’s enrolment list will be in accordance with original enrolment number i.e. as if they had originally enrolled for the deferred year.
  10. Except in exceptional circumstances, no Junior Infant who has not already been enrolled in another Junior Infant class, will be enrolled after September 30th.
  11. Non-Junior Infants cannot defer a place which has been offered to them.   However,if the parent/guardian wish to put them on the list for the next year for a different class, they will be issued with a new enrolment number and put on the non-Junior Infant list for the following year.
  12. If a non-Junior Infant is not offered a place in the year of initial application, parents will be offered the option of adding their child’s name to the enrolment list for the next available year. Parents must respond to this offer in writing within 14 days of that offer being made; otherwise their child’s place on the enrolment list will be forfeited.
  13. If a child leaves during the school year, his/her place may be back-filled. The place may be offered to the next person on the list for the same class. If there is no child on the the list for the same class who wishes to take up the offer, the place may be offered to a child on the list for a different class. This will be decided by the Board of Management in consultation with the Principal.
  14. It is the sole responsibility of the parents to inform Skerries Educate Together National School promptly of any change of address, telephone number or other relevant information/circumstances.
  15. If the applications for enrolment/admission exceeds or is expected to exceed the number of spaces available the Board of Management must give regard to class size or staffing provisions, physical space and the health and welfare of children.
  16. While recognizing the rights of  parents to enrol their child in the school of their choice, the Board of Management of Skerries Educate Together National School has a responsibility to respect the rights of the existing school community and in particular, the children already enrolled. This requires balanced judgements, which are guided by the principles of natural justice and acting in the best interest of the children.
  17. The application for a student with special educational needs will be considered carefully and on an individual basis. Children with special needs are resourced in accordance with DES circulars and guidelines. Due to recent changes outlined in circular 04/11 and the announced pause of the allocation of resource hours, the school reserves the right to refuse enrolment of any pupil in cases where:
    • The school cannot meet their needs and/or provide the pupil with an appropriate education.
      or
    • In the opinion of the Board of Management, the pupil poses an unacceptable risk to other pupils, staff or to school property.
  18. On Agreement of the enrolment/admission of children with special needs, Skerries Educate Together National School may request a copy of the child’s medical and/or psychological report or where such a report is not available, to request that the child be assessed immediately.
    • The assessment report will assist Skerries Educate Together National School in establishing the educational needs of the child and to profile the support services required.
    • If a child requires further resources not already available in the school e.g. Visiting Teacher, Special Needs Assistant, specialized equipment or furniture, transport services a request will be made to the Department of Education and Science to provide resources required to meet the needs of the child outlined in the report.
    • Skerries Educate Together National School will meet the parents/guardians of the child and discuss the child’s needs and the school’s suitability or capacity in meeting these needs.
    • However, it may be necessary to defer certain enrolments/admissions pending:
    • The receipt of an assessment report and/or
    • The provision of appropriate resources by the Dept. of Ed. & Science.
  19. It is the policy of the school to enable children to transfer to our school at any time, subject to space and the approval of the Dept. of Ed. & Science.  Children wishing to transfer from local schools in Skerries are to be admitted on the first day of the following term after a place has been accepted, unless there are extenuating circumstances as agreed by the Board of Management.
  20. It is the policy of our school to communicate information concerning attendance and the child’s educational progress to other schools if requested.
  21. The school’s Code of Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Policy is available in the school for inspection by parents/guardians. Children enrolled in Skerries Educate Together National School are required to co-operate with and support the School/Board of Management’s Code of Behaviour as well as all other school policies on curriculum, organisation and management. The Board of Management places parents/guardians responsible for ensuring their child(ren) co-operate with said policies in an age-appropriate way.

Note:

In accordance with the Department of Education and Science rules for National Schools, these policies may be added to and revised from time to time.

Skerries Educate Together National School Board of Management,

8th of May, 2009

 

Policy last updated 28th February 2012