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Draft Policy in relation to Equality of Access and ParticipationJanuary 2006Introductory StatementThis policy was drafted in January 2006 by the designated postholder, in conjunction with a sub-committee of staff members. It was presented to teaching and ancillary staff before a staff discussion of the policy on 27th January. The subsequently revised draft was given to the Board of Management and Parents’ Association. In addition, the document was uploaded to the school website for the benefit of the wider school community. RationaleThe Equal Status Acts 2000 – 2004, the Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004 and the Education Act 1998 call upon each school to outline a policy document that addresses equality of access and participation. The DES – Equality Authority booklet Schools and the Equal Status Act states that the school development plan “must contain equality objectives and identify the steps that will be taken to achieve them. It should be based on an identification of the educational needs of students across the Nine Grounds”. All members of the St. Colmcilles B.N.S. community: students, parents, teachers, ancillary staff and visitors to the school, are to be included within the scope of this document. It centres on the nine grounds in which equality legislation prohibits discrimination and promotes equality. Relating the Equality Policy to the Characteristic Spirit of St. Colmcilles B.N.S.St. Colmcilles B.N.S. is committed to providing a caring learning environment which facilitates the nurturing of each pupil’s full educational potential. Communication between home and school is a vital ingredient in this education process. Our school aims to be a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of its community. This community is defined as the pupils, parents, teachers, ancillary staff and visitors to the school. Our school is open to positive reflections of diversity in its staff and pupil population, with its décor and activities making reference to cultural, racial, lingual and religious difference. Aims of the Equality Policy of St. Colmcilles B.N.S.
Equality and the Enrolment Policy of St. Colmcilles B.N.S.Our school complies with the priority listing of national schools under the patronage of the Catholic Church. Provision is made with this policy for children who are not Catholic or resident within the parish. The enrolment form is sensitive to, and does not discriminate in, the areas of family, marital and residential status or sexual orientation of parents or guardians. Pupils are placed in age-appropriate classes. Advisory meetings and Open Days take place for parents of incoming junior infants. A Booklet for Parents as well as information contained in each child’s homework journal outline school procedures and responsibilities of parents, pupils and staff. Relevant informational booklets are also available through the INTO, in other languages for non-English speaking families. These are obtainable via the school. StaffThe Board of Management of St. Colmcilles B.N.S. is an equal opportunities employer. Procedures for the advertisement, selection and employment of staff are explicit and in accordance with the format as outlined in the CPSMA Board of Management and INTO handbook. Our school has a Code of Behaviour and Anti-Bullying policy which is reviewed regularly. In addition, St. Colmcilles B.N.S. has policies on Sexual Harassment and Adult Bullying in the workplace. Classes are allocated to teachers on an equitable basis, taking into account personal strengths and career development prospects. Staff members are invited to discuss any relevant issues with the principal before yearly class allocation takes place. Home School LiaisonSt. Colmcille’s B.N.S. highly esteems positive and open communication between school and home. Forms and procedures of communication are clearly outlined in the relevant section of the Plean Scoile. In instances of separated and divorced parents, children’s progress is reported to a nominated person at the discretion of the pupil’s family. Parents are welcome to meet with staff members by appointment, especially to facilitate one-to-one meetings that may benefit non-English speaking / reading parents. The School Completion Programme Co-ordinator can assist in integrating a new family into the community. There is also a pastoral element to the work of all teachers, especially that of the Language Support staff. Information regarding Adult Education courses, such as language classes, can be accessed through the Parents’ Association. Currently, we have some multi-lingual notices in the school. They are particularly used for greetings and during times of shared festivities. The role and expectations of the school, the expected role of parents and other such related issues are explained to families in a number of ways. There is a general meeting of incoming junior infants’ parents each year. New families are provided with an Information Booklet on the school, and at the early stage of enquiry and enrolment, the Secretary can discuss any issues of concern to parents. The annual parent-teacher meetings can also be a forum for parents and class teachers. In addition, the language support teachers are available to meet individually with parents to assist with integration into the school community. In cases where parents have little or no English, pupils in senior classes, or older family members can be requested to provide translation services in meetings between teachers and parents. St. Colmcilles B.N.S. is fully aware that parental expectations of children can vary, from family to family and across cultures. Similarly, there are many different child-rearing practices in use. Parental InvolvementEvery parent of pupils in our school is automatically a member of the Parents Association. Consequently the increasingly diverse background of our student population is reflected in the Parents Association. Parental involvement in classroom activities is being actively promoted. Attendance at class plays or performances has been positive, especially at junior level. The school maintains a database of parents who have expressed interest in involvement with in-school paired reading programmes. All parents are invited to participate in such endeavours and those parents who avail of the opportunity are appropriately trained for the work they will undertake. UniformParents are encouraged to donate old uniforms that are still in good condition to the school. These are kept as a resource for parents who cannot acquire uniforms themselves. Monetary assistance is also available through the School Completion Programme and the Health Board. AttendanceThrough school newsletters and consultation with individual teachers, all parents are made aware of the Education Welfare Act (2000) and its implications. When a pupil’s attendance causes concern, teachers bring this to the parents’ attention, and this communication continues. The Education Welfare Officer is in regular contact with the School Completion Programme Co-Ordinator, in particular, with regard to pupils whose attendance is a cause for concern. Parents are frequently advised, both verbally and through newsletters, that a pupil’s absence must be explained by written note or phone call from the parent / guardian to the school. Where parents are not fluent in English, translators are used (sometimes siblings, family members or pupils) so that all issues relating to attendance are clearly emphasised. The absence of a child for the purposes of participation in religious or cultural ceremonies that do not coincide with school holidays is recorded in documentation to the Education Welfare Board only in instances where the child’s general attendance is a concern. LunchOur school Healthy Eating Policy promotes a nutritious and balanced diet. It is reviewed regularly to ensure that foods to which pupils are allergic, such as nut and egg, are forbidden. Pupils with dietary requirements e.g. diabetes / coeliacs are also accommodated. Code of Behaviour and Anti-Bullying PoliciesThese policies are founded upon a respect for all members of the school community and are focussed on promoting positive behaviours and attitudes. These policies are reviewed regularly. Anti – Racism CharterA sub-committee is compiling an Anti-Racism Charter for St. Colmcilles B.N.S. On completion, the charter will be prominently displayed at the main entrance to the school. It will be signed by the Board of Management. Any breaches of the charter such as racist comments or incidents will be dealt with in the same manner as is done already in the school code of behaviour and anti-bullying code. Such incidents are recorded in a number of ways depending on the severity of the breach. These include:
St. Colmcilles B.N.S. is committed to listening to and supporting equally all children, staff and parents when such incidents are reported. Perpetrators of racist incidents will be dealt with in the same manner that would follow breaches of the Code of Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Code by explaining why such behaviour is unacceptable. Induction of New PupilsIf a pupil’s first day occurs during term-time, class teachers can prepare the class to welcome the new pupil. Teachers would appreciate communication with the parents of new pupils, as well as pupils themselves, in order to ease the transition to our school. Equally, teachers would benefit from as much prior knowledge as possible of the pupil’s school record to date. Such information is generally volunteered by the parents, and any other information, especially if of a sensitive nature, will be on a need-to-know basis. Induction of New StaffA welcoming and informative atmosphere awaits any new member of staff. On commencing employment, staff members are given the school’s plean scoile and other policy documents. This is in addition to the discursive forum between existing and new members of staff. Where new teachers are on probation, weekly meetings are held between them and the principal / deputy principal. HomeworkGeneral guidelines are given in the Plean Scoile for the assignment of homework at each class level. Within this, teachers liaise with Learning Support and Resource Teachers with reference to children with special needs, to ensure a fair and broad balance of homework. The child’s homework journal may be used as a means of communication between teacher and parent. ResourcesOur school recognises the value of diversity in books, visual images and internet resources and teachers endeavour to keep our supplies up to date and relevant to pupils’ needs. Tours and School Organised EventsAll pupils have equal opportunity to participate in school tours and school organised outings. Teachers consider the cost and accessibility of school outings when choosing them. If a pupil’s family does not have the means to enable the child to attend, the school is willing to contribute to such costs. Staff DevelopmentA review of whole school and in-class practices regarding equality is regularly undertaken and staff are provided with up-to-date information on a steady basis. AssessmentStandardised tests, teacher-based tests and informal assessment are used at each class level and recorded with a view to assist planning for the class’s subsequent teachers. Such assessments are appropriately altered for children identified as having special needs, with the aim of assessing their work in accordance with their abilities. (see separate document on Special Needs) Children for whom English is not their first-language attend language support for a maximum period of two years and detailed assessment and progress records are kept in this regard. Co-curricular ActivitiesEvery pupil is invited to participate in age-appropriate curricular and co-curricular activities as offered by our school. Transition to Post PrimaryAll pupils are expected and therefore actively encouraged to strive towards a life-long love of learning. Consequently, the student population are made aware of the importance of post-primary education. At regular intervals, such as through newsletters, parents are alerted to procedures, application deadlines and requirements for the transition to post-primary school. CURRICULUMSt. Colmcilles B.N.S. is compliant with the aims, principles and features of the Revised Primary Curriculum (1999). This broad curriculum promotes a balance of knowledge, concepts and skills and takes into account individual difference. It has a particular responsibility in promoting tolerance and respect for diversity in both the school and the community. It equally recognises the diversity of beliefs, values and aspirations of all religious and cultural groups in society, while acknowledging the centrality of the Christian heritage and tradition in the Irish experience. (Primary School Curriculum : Introduction, p. 28) The curriculum offers the school and the teacher a flexible framework through which the learning requirements of all children may be addressed. It recognises the importance of providing appropriate support, in the form of human and physical resources, and of curriculum adaptation to schools to enable them to satisfy the needs of the children they serve. (Primary School Curriculum : Introduction, p. 28) All children have a right of access to the highest-quality education appropriate to their needs. It is important that a range of educational provision is available that is flexible enough to cater for the special needs of individual children at the various stages of their development. (Primary School Curriculum : Introduction, p. 29) Specific guidelines on the implementation of each area of the curriculum can be found in the Curriculum Handbooks. SUCCESS CRITERIAThe following criteria are used in the reviews of the success of this policy:
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITYThe review and any subsequent amendments of this policy is the responsibility of the postholder and sub-committee. IMPLEMENTATION DATEPending ratification, this policy will be applicable from 24th April 2006. RATIFICATION AND COMMUNICATIONThe draft policy was communicated to all staff members on 27th January 2006. It has been given to the Parents’ Association and a newsletter will also feature a notice of the availability of the policy on the school website. A revised policy will be given to the Board of Management in February 2006 for ratification at the next Board Meeting on 6th March 2006. Home | Staff Area |Child Protection ¦ Code of Behaviour |English |Equal Opportunities Policy |Gaeilge |Geography | Handwriting | History | Learning Support | Mathematics | Music | Physical Education | Policies |Science | Special Needs | Spelling | SPHE | Visual Arts | |||||||||
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