Telephone : 056-7762150
Fax : 056-7762895
E-Mail : stcanices.ias@eircom.net

Chairperson: Fr. James Murphy
Principal : Mrs Maria Comerford

St. Canice’s Co-Educational National School is a Catholic school under the patronage of
the Bishop of Ossory. As such it expresses its Spirit and Ethos through practices,
beliefs and attitudes which are rooted in this tradition. Not withstanding our Ethos we welcome children of every tradition while respecting the rights of the existing school community and the children already enrolled.

The Board of Management is setting out this policy in accordance with the provisions of
the Education Act 1998. The Board believe that by so doing parents will be assisted in
every way in relation to enrolment issues. It should be noted that the Chairperson and the Principal will be happy to clarify any matters arising from the policy.

The present school staff include :

Twenty four teachers on the staff, including the Principal, Special Needs Assistant, Secretary, Caretaker and three members of cleaning staff.

The school is co-educational and the full class range is taught.

There are eighteen mainstream classes.

There are three learning support teachers , two resource teachers and one special needs assistant on the staff.

The school is opened in the morning at 8.40 a.m. Junior Infant teachers start at 8.40 a.m., the others start at 9.00 a.m.
Children arriving between 8.40am and 9.00am will be supervised until the official starting time.

Junior Infants finish at 12.55 p.m. ; Senior Infants finish at 1.55 p.m. and the other classes finish at 2.55 p.m.

Morning break is at : 11.00 a.m. to 11.15 a.m.

Lunch break is at : 12.40 p.m. to 12.50 p.m. children are supervised while eating lunch
in the classrooms. 12.20 p.m. to 1.20 p.m. children are supervised during playtime, outside when the weather permits and inside on wet days.

All staff participate in a supervision rota which is on display in the staffroom.

The school funding is provided by the Department of Education & Science. It operates within the regulations laid down from time to time by the Department. School policy has regard to the funding available.

The school follows curricular programmes prescribed by the Department of Education
and Science which may be amended from time to time in accordance with sections 9 and
13 of the Education Act 1998.

The school respects the diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life
in our Society.

The school supports the principles of :

• Inclusiveness, with regard to disability and or other specific education needs,
provided that suitable accommodation and resources are in place prior to admission.

• Equality of access and participation. No child will be refused admission for reasons of religion, ethnicity, special education needs, disability, traveller status, asylum seeker/refugee status, family or social status.

• Parental choice in enrolment.

Application Procedures:
Applications must be made in writing on the official application form which can be obtained from the school office.

Applications for places in the Junior Infant Classes

The Board will communicate generally to the school community through the parish
bulletin, Parents’ Council newsletters and through notes to the pupils attending our
school. Application must be made before an annually specified date (January 20th 2005).

Junior Infants are only admitted to the school on the first school day in September of each
year. They must be at least four years of age by then.

All Others:

Children who wish to apply to transfer to the school from another Primary School either
within the State or abroad may do so at any time during the school year on the official
transfer form. However, information regarding educational progress and previous
attendance will be requested.

Decision Making:

Notification of acceptance/rejection will be sent out within 21 days of final date for
receipt of applications.

Acceptance or rejection of applications will be determined by the following factors:

• The physical space available in each classroom unit.

• Department of Education maximum class average directives.

• The requirement that Junior Infants must be at least four years of age on
1st September of year of enrolment.

• Primary Education is not compulsory before the age of six.

• Educational needs of children of a particular age.

• The presence of children with specific educational needs.

Criteria for Decision-Making:

1. Children residing within the Parish boundaries including children of Staff members
2. Siblings of children already enrolled in the school

3. Children of parents who attended our school
4. Outsiders on a first come first served basis.(Based on receipt of applications)
5. Five per cent (5%) of new entry places to be reserved up until February 7th of
previous school year for children of ethnic minorities, Travellers, Refugees,
Asylum seekers.

Enrolment of Children with Special Needs:

In relation to applications for enrolment of children with special needs the Board of
Management will request copies of medical and/or psychological reports. Where such
reports are not available, a request will be made that the child/children be assessed
immediately and reports furnished. The purpose of this is to assist the school in
determining the educational, training and staffing needs of the child/children and to

profile the support services required. On receipt of the reports the Board will then assess
the school in terms of the specified needs. If the Board deems that further resources are
required then a request will be made to the Department of Education and Science for
provision of same prior to the enrolment of the child/children. Enrolment will be
deferred until the needs of the child/children have been met.

The same care and attention will be given to the needs of children of ethnic groups.

Completion date of Policy Review : February 2004.

Attachments:

Code of Behaviour
Enrolment form