Scoil Naomh Cualán
Telephone: (0504) 51007(Senior School) Borrisoleigh,
(0504) 51473 (Junior School)
(086) 0233 023 Thurles,
Roll No: 20451(V) Co. Tipperary.
E-mail:
Website:
Enrolment Policy
Scoil Naomh Cualán is a co-educational primary school, under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Cashel and Emly.
The school(which is established in connection with the Minister)has a Roman Catholic ethos which aims to promote the full and harmonious development of all pupils: cognitive, intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual, including a living relationship with God and other people. The school models and promotes a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Catholic school provides religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.
School Staff:
There are ten full time teachers in Scoil Naomh Cualán comprising seven mainstream teachers, one learning support teacher and two shared resource teachers. The school caters for the full range of classes from junior infants to sixth class.
Children enrolled in Scoil Naomh Cualán are required to co-operate with and support the school’s Code of Behaviour as well as all other policies. Parents/ guardians are responsible for ensuring that their child(ren) co-operate with these policies in an age-appropriate way. A copy of the Code of Behaviour is available on the school website:
Scoil Naomh Cualán operates under the Rules for National Schools and Departmental Circulars and is funded by grants and teachers resourced by the Department of Education and Science. The school is subject to The Education Act (1998), The Education Welfare Act (2000), The Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act (2004) and all relevant equality legislation. Scoil Naomh Cualán follows the curricular programmes laid down by the Department of Education and Science.
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.
School Day:
The school opens to receive children at 09:00 each morning.
Morning break is from 10.40 am to 10.50am.
Lunch break is from 12:10 pm to 12.40 pm.
Junior and Senior Infants finish at 1.40 pm.
Junior and Senior Infants who travel by bus may remain in school until 2.40pm.
First to Sixth Classes finish at 2.40 pm.
A school calendar is issued to parents each year and will be available on the website.
Application Procedure
The Board of Management will communicate generally to the school community through appropriate channels e.g. children in school, their parents, school newsletter, school website, text-a-parent, parish bulletin/website, letter to parents etc. to invite them to bring their children on a specified induction day/eveningduring February/March.
Parents/ guardians who wish to enrol their child(ren )in Scoil Naomh Cualán are very welcome to make an appointment with the School Principal at any time. On commencing school, parents of Junior Infants or newly enrolled children in other classes, are given a copy of Rules and Procedures to ensure day to day organisation of the school.
Towards the end of the final termin advance of new entrants commencing school the Infant Teacher holds a meeting with parents to explain school procedures and to answer related questions.
The key information sought on theenrolment form (See Appendix 1) includes:
- Pupil’s name, age and address, PPS number
- Names and addresses and contact numbers of pupil’s parents/guardians
- Details of any medical conditions which the school should be aware of
- Religion
- Nationality
- Any other relevant information (Including any such further information as may be prescribed under the Education Welfare Act (2000) of Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004)
eg, speech and language assessments, psychological assessments etc.
No child is refused admission for reasons of ethnicity, special educational needs, disability, language/accent, gender, traveller status, asylum-seeker/ refugee status, religious/ political beliefs and values, family or social circumstances.
While recognising the rights of the parents/ guardians to enrol their child in the school of their choice,the Board of Management of Scoil Naomh Cualán is also responsible for respecting 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 act in the best interest of the children.
The completion of a pre-enrolment form or the placement of your child’s name on a list, however early, does not confer an automatic right to a place in the school.
Decision-Making:
Decisions in relation to application for enrolment are made by the Board of Management. Parents will be notified of acceptance of their children and as a general principle, having regard to the school’s enrolment policy, children will be enrolled on application provided that there is space available and the child has reached his/ her 4thbirthday, although compulsory attendance does not apply until the child is six years of age. (See note on Education for Person’s with Special Educational Needs Act 2004). If the Board has concerns around an application, the parents will be informed and the Board will notify parents of a refusal to enrol within 21 days of receipt of completed pre-enrolment form.
Regarding enrolment criteria, the following is the priority order in which children will be accepted:
- Applicants with siblings currently in the school.
- Catholic children living within the parish boundary.
- Children of staff members of Scoil Naomh Cualán.
- Non-Catholic children living within the parish boundary.
- Children of past pupils of previous schools in the parish of Borrisoleigh.
To assist the school in such circumstances as over-crowding, the Board of Management reserves the right to determine the maximum number of children in each separate classroom bearing in mind Department of Education and Science guidelines in relation to class size and staffing provisions. Other factors that may be considered are:
- Size of and available space in classrooms
- Educational needs of children of a particular age
- Multi-grade classes
- Presence of children with special educational/ behavioural needs.
Pupils Transferring
Other pupils may be enrolled during the school year if newly resident in the area.Pupils wishing to transfer from other schools can do so at any time and are enrolled subject to the Rules for National Schools, Education Welfare Act and school’s enrolment policy. They are requested to fill out a pre-enrolment form and it is requirement of the Board of Management that information concerning the child’s attendance and educational progress be communicated between schools. (Section 28,Education Welfare Act 2000).
Children with Special Needs
Children with special needs enrolling in Scoil Naomh Cualán will be resourced in accordance with the level of resources provided by the Department of Education and Science to the Board of Management
The Board of Management may request a copy of the child’s medical and/or psychological reports or request that the child be assessed immediately in order to assist the school in establishing the educational needs of the child and to profile the support services required. The Board of Management will endeavour to have all resources and supports in place before the child is admitted to the school. This may include visiting teacher service, resource teacher, special needs assistants, specialised equipment or furniture, transport services, etc.
The school will meet with the parents/ guardians of the child who has special needs to discuss the school’s suitability for the child. If necessary a full case conference may be called including parents, class teacher, learning support teacher, resource teacher and psychologist or social workers as appropriate.
Exceptional Circumstances
The school reserves the right to refuse enrolment to a pupil in exceptional cases. Such an exceptional case could arise, for example, if:
- The pupil has special needs such that, even with additional resources available from the Department of Education and Skills, the school cannot meet such needs and/ or provide the pupil with an appropriate education.
- In the opinion of the Board of Management, the pupil poses an unacceptable risk to other pupils, to school staff, or to school property.
Appeals Procedure:
Parents/ guardians who are dissatisfied with an enrolment decision may appeal to the Board of Management. It must be addressed in writing to the Chairperson of the Board, stating the grounds for the appeal, and lodged within ten days of receiving the refusal. Parents, if unhappy with the result of this appeal, may appeal to the Department of Education and Science under Section 29 of the Education Act on the official form provided by the Department. This appeal must be lodged within 42 days of receipt of the refusal from the school to enrol.
c.f. Appendix A: School Enrolment Form
This Policy was amended and ratified by Board of Management on:25/05/2015
Signed:Jody Spooner,Chairperson of Board of Management
Appendix A: School Enrolment Form:
Scoil Naomh Cualán
Telephone: (0504) 51007(Senior School) Borrisoleigh,
(0504) 51473 (Junior School)
(086) 0233 023 Thurles,
Roll No: 20451(V) Co. Tipperary.
E-mail:
Website:
ENROLMENT FORM
Strictly Private and Confidential
Parent(s) /Guardian(s) please note:
This enrolment form requests very specific personal information in relation to your child. The purpose of this information is to satisfy Department of Education requirements and to enable the school to provide for your child’s needs to the best of our capabilities. Should you have any queries or difficulties with regard to any aspect of the information requested or should you wish to discuss your child’s situation in a one-to-one context please contact the School Principal in strictest confidence.
Name of Pupil: ______
P. P. S. No: (as per Department of Education & Science requirements):______
Date of Birth: ______Male Female
Nationality of Child: ______
Language(s) spoken in the home: ______
Religion: ______
Address: ______
______
Home Telephone Number: ______Mobile: ______
Class in which child will be enrolled: ______
Date child will first attend: ______
Name, address and contact no. of former schoolattended (if applicable): ______
Class(es) completed (if applicable) :______
(Information for ‘Clár Leabhar’-as requested by D.E.S.):
Father’s Name: ______Father’s Nationality: ______
Address(if different from that of pupil): ______
Occupation: ______
Phone: ______
Work: ______/ Mother’s Name: ______
Mother’s Nationality:
______
Address(if different from that of pupil): ______
Occupation:______
Phone: ______
Work: ______
Father’s e-mail:______Mother’s e-mail:______
Copy of Birth Certificate enclosed(as per Department of Education & Science requirements)
If you wish to include a specific version of your child’s name in Irish please do so here, otherwise school will translate: ______
Contact Numbers
We make every effort to ensure the safety of your child; we may need to contact you in the event of an accident or if your child is ill etc. In the event that we cannot contact a parent on the numbers provided above, we ask that you provide an alternative contact number.
Please let us know if this person is a relation, minder, friend of family etc.
(1)Name: ______
Relationship to child: ______
Address: ______
Phone Number(s) ______
N.B. Should any of these numbers change while your child is attending this school please inform us immediately.
Do you consent to the application of plasters/bandages etc. should your child require them?
Yes [ ] No [ ]
In the event of an emergency, should we fail to contact you, do you give permission to the School to bring your child to doctor/hospital?
Yes: No:
Signed: ______Date: ______
Family Doctor: ______Phone No: ______
DIAGNOSTIC / EDUCATIONAL TESTS.
During your child’s time in Scoil Naomh Cualán, he/she will undergo various Diagnostic/Educational Tests.
Should my child require educational/diagnostic testing during his/her time in Scoil Naomh Cualán, I give permission for these tests to be carried out.
Yes [ ] No [ ]
Photographs
Occasionally situations arise when it is appropriate to display individual, class or group photographs of school events on the school website or premises, Borrisoleigh website, newsletter, local papers etc.
Do you give permission for your child to be included in these photographs?
Yes [ ] No [ ]
CHILD PROFILE
(For school records only)
Family:
Child’s Name: ______
Is your child living with (circle as appropriate): Both Parents/ One Parent, Grandparents, Carers, Other?
Who are the legal guardians of your child? ______
If there is any relevant legal documentation we should have please give details and supply a copy e.g. Guardianship, Barring Orders, Access etc. ______
______
Medical/Educational:
Medical conditions we should know about: Please tick as appropriate;
1. Speech [ ] Hearing [ ] Sight [ ] or other difficulties [ ]
2. Medical Conditions – Asthma [ ] Epilepsy [ ] Heart Conditions [ ] Diabetes [ ] Other [ ]
3. Allergies – Wasp Stings [ ] Food [ ] (details):______
Other allergies: [ ] (details):______
4. Emotional Problems: [ ] (details): ______
5. Additional Information – Please give details and specify any condition not listed above which might be considered to affect the child’s ability to benefit from school. If there are any medical reports in relation to any of the above we would appreciate a copy of same.
______
______
6. Does your child require regular medication? Yes [ ] No [ ]
______
7. Did your child attend playschool? Yes [ ] No [ ]
Name of Playschool: ______
Dates /Years attended:______
8. Does your child have any special educational, physical, emotional, language etc. needs? ______
9. Has your child ever been assessed for any reason? Yes [ ] No [ ]
______
If yes, are reports available? Yes [ ] No [ ]
10. Has there been any major trauma in your child’s life that the school should know about?
Yes [ ] No [ ]
______
Signed: ______Dated: ______
Parent/Guardian
Signed: ______Dated: ______
Parent/Guardian
Thank you for your assistance.
We look forward to meeting your child and to welcoming him/her to our school community.