School Policies
Enrolment Policy
Dublin 7 Educate Together (D7ET) Enrolment Policy
This policy has been formulated by the Board of Management (the Board) of D7ET.
Rationale
To assist parents / guardians in making an informed decision in relation to child enrolment.
To comply with legislation and Department of Education and Science (DES) circulars.
General Information
This policy has been set out in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998.
D7ET is under the patronage of Educate Together. Parents /guardians are advised to familiar themselves with the Educate Together ethos prior to placing their child on the pre-enrolment list or enrolling them.
The school caters for children from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. It also has an assisted learning unit for children with autism. It is co-educational and multi-denominational. The school is a national school and as such operates in accordance with the rules for national schools. It is dependant on such grants and teachers’ resources as are provided by the DES. All school policies must have regard to the resources and funding provided.
The school follows the curricular programmes prescribed by the DES, which may be amended from time to time, in accordance with Sections 9 and 30 of the Education Act 1998. The school also follows "Learn Together", the ethical programme of our patron body, Educate Together.
Eligibility Criteria
- Under the Education Act 1998, a child may not be allowed to attend or be enrolled in a primary school before the fourth anniversary of his/her birth. In D7ET, junior infants must be 4 years old, on or before May 31st, on the year of enrolment into Junior Infants class. This is applicable for children enrolling in Junior Infants from 2013 onwards.
- All places in mainstream classes are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- In determining enrolments the Board shall take account of DES Regulations in relation to staffing, class size, and class average. The Board shall also have regard to issues such as physical space, multi grade classes, and the presence of children with special educational and / or behavioural needs.
Enrolment Procedures
1. Parents / guardians wishing to apply for a place for their child must complete and return to the school an application form. An application form may be obtained by contacting the school office or may be downloaded from the school website. This application form requires the parent / guardian to give the school certain information regarding their child (copy form on website or available from school office).
2. On receipt of completed application form, a pre-enrolment number will be allocated to each applicant. If more than one application form is received on a particular day, these numbers are awarded in the order of the post date on the envelope. If the post date on the envelopes is the same the numbers are awarded in alphabetical order of the first surname.
3. Each child will be placed on the list according to the pre-enrolment number. If parents have twins/triplets, the children will be put on the list one after the other in alphabetical order of the child’s first name.
4. Two separate lists will be kept for each year, a Junior Infant and a non Junior Infant list. Children will be ranked in pre-enrolment number order on these lists.
5. If a place is not offered during the school year for which a place is sought and parents wish their child's name to be put on the waiting list for the following year (either for junior infants or for another class) they must inform the school by the 30th September of the year for which the place is sought. It is the responsibility of the parent / guardian to make such a request in writing, otherwise the application will be removed from the school's pre enrolment list.
6. No guarantees of places will be given or implied by pre-enrolment.
7. Children will, as a rule, only be admitted to junior infant classes during the month of September. Children may be admitted to a junior infant class during the school year provided they are transferring from another school.
8. Children will be offered places strictly following the ranking of the pre-enrolment number on the pre-enrolment list.
9. Letters of interest will be sent out in October/ November of the year prior to that for which the child is enrolled, and must be replied to within 14 days. Failure to do so will result in the place being forfeited.
10. Letters offering places will commence being sent out in the last week of January.
11. Parents must reply in writing to confirm an offered place within 14 days of the place being offered. Failure to respond within 14 days will result in the place being forfeited.
12. Parents/guardians of Junior Infants may defer the child’s place for one year providing the child is under 6 by the first of September of the year on which s/he starts school. This means that the child will be placed on the list for the following year according to the original pre-enrolment number. Deferral does not guarantee a place the following year. Parents / guardians of children for classes other than junior infants cannot defer a place.
13. It is the sole responsibility of the parents to inform the school promptly of any change of address, telephone number or other relevant circumstances.
14. On acceptance of a place the child’s birth certificate should be provided to the school, a copy will be retained for school records, and the original returned. The PPSN number of the child should also be obtained at the time of enrolment.
Enrolment of Children with Special Needs in Mainstream Classes
D7ET endeavours at all times to practice the school policy of inclusion and welcomes applications from children with special needs. Such applications are subject to the first come first served principle and applicants with special needs will not be advantaged or disadvantaged over other children in terms of the priority afforded their application. In order to assist the school in establishing the educational and physical needs of the child relevant to his/her disability or special needs, and to profile the support services required, the school requests that the parent/guardian of the child:
· informs the School of any special needs as early as possible in the (pre) enrolment process; and
· ensures that a copy of the child's medical and/or psychological report(s) are provided to D7ET.
Where such a report is not available, a request should be made that the child would be assessed immediately. Following receipt of the report, the Board will assess how the school can meet the needs specified therein. Where the Board deems that further resources are required, it will, prior to enrolment, request the DES and/or the HSE to provide the resources required to meet the needs of the child as outlined in the psychological or medical report.
These resources may include the following among other resources:
· a visiting teacher service;
· a resource teacher for special needs;
· a special needs assistant;
· assistive technology;
· specialized equipment;
· furniture; or
· transport / escort services and building adaptation where possible.
The school principal may in conjunction with the SENO or DES inspector meet with the parents of the child to discuss the child's needs and the school's suitability or capability in meeting those needs. If necessary, a full case-conference involving all parties may be held.
The Board may decide to defer enrolment of a particular child, pending:
· the receipt of an assessment report; and/or
· the provision by the DES of, what is in the view of the Board, appropriate resources to meet the needs specified in the medical and / or psychological report and/or
· receipt of a medical report.
Autism Class
The school operates a separate enrolment process for children with autism. A formal process is being developed for the purpose of ratification.Pupils TransferringThe Board shall allow pupils to transfer to the school at any time, subject to school policy, available space and in some cases, the approval of the DES.
Under the Education Welfare Act (2000), the Board may require that information concerning attendance and the child's educational progress, should be communicated between schools before the child transfers to D7ET.
Code of Behaviour
Children enrolled in D7ET are required to co-operate with the school's Code of Behaviour and other policies on curriculum, organisation and management. Parents / guardians are responsible for ensuring that their children co-operate with these policies in an age appropriate way.
Appeals Procedure
Parents / guardians who are dissatisfied with an enrolment decision may appeal in writing to the Board. The letter of appeal must be addressed to the chairperson of the Board stating the grounds of appeal and it should be lodged within ten days of receiving the refusal. Parents / guardians who are unhappy with the outcome of the appeal may appeal to the DES on foot of section 29 of the Education Act 1998 on the official form provided by the DES. This appeal must be lodged within 42 days of receipt of the refusal from the school to enrol.
Additional Information
D7ET endeavours to provide the highest standards of pastoral care for its pupils. In order to achieve this objective successfully it is vital that the school be informed of any relevant situation regarding health, bereavement, domestic circumstances etc. Any such information should be passed to the school principal and will be treated in strictest confidence.
Approved by the Board of Management on the 11th November 2008
Signed: John McDaid
Chairperson
Board of Management