Enrolment/Admission Policy 
   
 
   Introduction
   In introducing its enrolment/admissions policy, the Board of Management of Holy Family National School, Rathcoole is doing so with reference to the Rules for National Schools and in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998. By doing so the Board trusts that parents will be assisted in relation to enrolment matters and furthermore, the Chairperson of the B.O.M., Mr. James Walsh, and the Principal teacher, Mr. Martin Hoban, will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy. 
   
  General Information 
 
  • The name of the school is Holy Family National School and is located at Kilteel Road, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. Phone 4580570.
  • The denominational character of the school is Roman Catholic and the patron is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. The ethos of our school is Christian and in this atmosphere the spiritual, moral, intellectual, social and physical growth of our pupils is nurtured.
  • The current staff of twenty teachers in the school includes the Principal Teacher; 14 classroom teachers; two Learning Support Teachers; one Resource Teacher; one Resource Teacher based in and shared with Rathmore N.S. and two Language Support teachers.
  • The school is co-educational and children are taught from Junior Infants up to sixth class.
  • The school depends on the grants and teacher resources provided by the Dept. of Education and Science and it operates under the Rules for National Schools, the Education Act 1998 and within the regulations laid down, from time to time, by the Department in the form of circulars.
  • The Board, at all times, must have due regard to the resources and funding available from the Dept. of Education and Science.
  • The school follows the curricular programmes prescribed by the Dept. 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, 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 needs;
    • equality of access and participation in the school;
    • parental choice in relation to enrolment;
    • respect for the diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, language and ways of life in society.
  • School starts each day at 9.00am and finishes for Junior and Senior Infants at 1.45pm and for all other classes at 2.45pm.
  • The school has a Code of Behaviour, which was drawn up by staff and Board of Management in consultation with parents and is reviewed on an annual basis.
  • The enrolment of a child in the school is an acceptance by the child and his/her parent(s)/ Guardian(s) of the school's Code of Behaviour.
 
   
  Procedures 
   
  The following procedures apply for the enrolment of pupils in Holy Family N.S.: 
  Parents/Guardians who wish to enrol their children must return a completed Enrolment Application Form (available in the office) with an original Birth/Adoption Certificate to the school by the 28th February each year. The application form will request such information about each child as is necessary e.g. Child's name, address, date of birth, parent's/guardian's names etc. and any other information which may be required under the Education Welfare Act 2000. The filling up of an application form is not an acceptance by the Board of an enrolment of a child. This final date will be communicated to the school community through appropriate channels such as circular letter from Board, school newsletter and by announcement at weekend Masses in local churches. The Board of Management of our school, in accordance with school policy, makes decisions in relation to applications for enrolment. As a general principle, and in so far as practicable, having regard to the school's ethos and rules set down by The Education Act 1998 and Education Welfare Act 2000, the Board will automatically enrol all children for whom the application form has been returned by the said closing date, provided that there is space available. 
   
  The Board is bound by the Dept. of Education and Science 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.
While recognising the right of parents to enrol their child in the school of their choice, the Board of Management of Holy Family N.S. 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 all children. Assisting the school in such circumstances, the BOM reserves the right to determine the maximum number of children in each separate classroom bearing in mind:  
 
  • Size of / available space in classroom.
  • Educational needs of children of a particular age.
  • Multi-grade classes.
  • Presence of children with special educational/ behavioural needs.
  • Department's maximum class average directives (currently a maximum average of 27 children).
 
   
  In the event that applications for enrolment exceed or are expected to exceed the number of places available, the Board shall exercise its discretion in the application of the following criteria: 
  1. Brothers and sisters (including step-siblings, resident at same address) of children already attending the school----priority to oldest.
2. Catholic children living within the parish of Saggart/Rathcoole----priority to oldest. This also applies to traveller children.
3. Non-Catholic children living within the parish of Saggart/Rathcoole----priority to oldest.
4. Children of current school staff----priority to oldest.
5. Children from outside the parish of Saggart/Rathcoole----priority will be given to families who intend moving to the parish of Saggart/Rathcoole (some proof will be required). After that priority to the oldest.
6. In the event of being unable to enrol a child(ren) from the above categories in a given class at the beginning of a year, such children will receive priority (in order of 1,2,3 and 4) for the subsequent school year over other children.

The Board of Management may decide to leave up to three (3) places vacant in the Junior Infant class in September in case older children, who would have to be accommodated in Junior Infants that year, should come to live in the Parish between March 31st and July 1st. 
   
  Admission 
   
  Junior Infants will only be admitted to the school on the first school day in September unless he/she is a member of a family moving into the area. 
   
  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 Dept. of Education and Science.
Parents who transfer their child to Holy Family N.S. will be required to supply information concerning attendance and educational progress at his/her previous school.
If a parent /guardian wishes to transfer a child from another school to Holy Family N.S, outside the four quarters, i.e. 1st January, 1st April, 1st July and 1st October, or the first day school opens after the first day of the quarter, the parent/guardian must seek the permission of the Minister for Education and Science.
This regulation only applies outside the four first quarter days. It does not apply if a family or a child is changing residence.  
   
  Enrolment of Children with Special Needs 
   
  The B.O.M. of Holy Family N.S. supports the principle of inclusiveness and children with disabilities or other special educational needs will be enrolled in the school.
When a parent/guardian of a child with a disability or special needs applies for enrolment a copy of the child's medical and/or psychological report will be requested or where such a report is not available, the parent/guardian will be asked to have the child 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 could meet the needs specified in the report. If the Board deems that further resources are required it will, prior to enrolment, request the Dept. of Education and Science, to provide the resources required to meet the needs of the child as outlined in the psychological or medical report. These resources may include 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 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 will be held, which may include parents, principal, class teacher, learning support teacher, resource teacher for special needs or psychologist as appropriate.
If it is necessary the Board of Management will defer enrolment of a particular child pending:
a. The receipt of an assessment report and/or
b. The provision of appropriate resources by the Dept of Education and Science to meet the needs specified in the medical and/or psychological report. 
   
  Promotion of Pupils 
  In general, all pupils will be promoted to a higher standard at the end of each school year as set out in circular 10/67. There may be exceptional cases from time to time where the Principal Teacher, in consultation with the class teacher and learning support teacher, may feel that a pupil would benefit educationally by being retained in the same class for a second year. When this is the case the Principal and class teacher will advise the parent in good time that they are of the opinion that the child would benefit educationally by being retained in the same class for a second year. Only after consultation, discussion and agreement with the parents will any child be retained in the same class for a second year.
In keeping with recommendations set out in Circular 10/67 and 11/01 we will not retain any child in same class for two years after they have completed fourth standard. 
   
   
  This policy will be subject to periodic review. 
   
       
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  Holy Family National School
Rathcoole
County Dublin