Emo NS Enrolment Policy

Emo NS Enrolment Policy

Emo National School Policy on Enrolment

This policy refers to all applicants from 1^st January 2016 and subsequent years until further notice.

 

1. General Information

The enrolment policy of Emo National School is set out in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act (1998). The Board of Management trusts that by so doing parents will be assisted in relation to enrolment matters. The Chairperson of the Board of Management, Emo N.S., Emo ,Portlaoise ,Co. Laois and the School Principal will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from this policy.

Emo National School is a Catholic National School for boys and girls under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Bishop Denis Nulty and is situated at Emo village. The school 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 and promotes a Christian philosophy of life.

There are 13 teachers including an administrative principal, a learning support teacher and a shared learning support teacher, two resource teachers for children with special needs. The school caters for pupils from approximately age 4 years to 12 years in classes from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.

The school depends on grants and teacher resources provided by the Department of Education and Science and operates within the rules and regulations laid down from time to time by the Department of Education and Science. This enrolment policy will have regard to available funding and resources.

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. Emo National School follows the curricular programmes laid down by the Department 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 of Education and Science regulations and programmes, the rights of the Patron as set out in the Education Act (1998) and the funding and resources available the enrolment policy of Emo National school supports the principles of: –

• inclusiveness, particularly with reference to the enrolment of children with a disability or other special educational need;
• equalityof access and participation in the school;
• parental choicein relation to enrolment and
• respect for the diversityof values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society.

Therefore, no child will be refused access to Emo N.S. for reasons of ethnicity, special educational needs, disability, accent, language, traveller status, asylum seeker/refugee status, religious or political beliefs or values, family or social circumstances.

 

1. Procedure for Enrolment

The Board of Management has determined that the school Principal will accept written applications for enrolment in Junior Infants from 1^st January up to the last working Friday in January of the school year prior to enrolment. Each December the school principal will communicate generally to the school community through school newsletters, Parish Newsletters and any other appropriate media that applications are being accepted from 1st January to the last Friday in January.

• Application forms are available from the school
• All completed enrolment application forms must be accompanied by an originalBirth Certificate, a Baptismal certificate ,a passport photo and a bill head . In the case of children transferring schools they must have a report from the principal of their most recent school.
• It is the responsibility of each parent/guardian to ensure that all necessary documentation requested by the school accompanies their application.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Completed forms should be returned to the following address: Enrolment Application, Emo National School, Emo, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

 Criteria for Acceptance

1. Emo National School’s Management Board will enroll a maximum of 27 infants in the junior infant room each year.
2. All applicants for Junior Infants must reach four years of age before the start of the school year in which they wish to enrol. For example a child starting in September 2016 must reach four years of age before 1st September 2016.
3. All applicants must give their permanent address at the time of application ie January for Junior Infants and their expected address at the time their child will start in the school. All changes of address must be notified to the school immediately especially where this change may impact on their child’s eligibility for enrolment. The BoM reserves the right to withdraw an offer of enrolment where these conditions are not complied with.
4. Places will be notified in writing after the application closing date. When notifying parents about a refusal to enrol a child, the reason for refusal and their place on the waiting list will be specified in the notification.
5. Should the number of children seeking enrolment in junior infants exceed the places available, children who are 4 years of age before 1st September in the year they wish to enrol will be given priority according to the following criteria:                                                                                                                                 A. Brothers and sisters of children already enrolled (including step-siblings, resident at the same address) and Catholic children who are permanent residents of Emo catchment area as defined in the following list:

 

MORETTE

CAPPAKEEL

NEW INN

COOLBANAGHER

CARN

KNIGHTSTOWN

EMO KILLEEN (as half in Mountmellick Parish)

WOODBROOK

COOLAGH

BALLYCULLANE

EMO DANGANS (as half in Mountmellick Parish)

TINNAKILL

LIMETREE

EMO GARRYVACUM (some in Portarlington Parish)

EMO LOUGH (some in Portarlington Parish)

OLD BALLYBRITTAS

EMO PARK

KILLIMY

 

Children in this category must be at least 4 years of age or older before the 1^st September  in the year of intended enrolment with preference given in order of date of birth from the oldest to the youngest with any child having the same date of birth given equal priority.

B.Children of current staff, including ancillary staff in order of date of birth from the oldest to the youngest with any child having the same date of birth given equal priority.

C. Any remaining applicants with preference given in order of date of birth from the oldest to the youngest with any child having the same date of birth given equal priority.

 

Should applications fulfilling the criteria under Section A-C above exceed places available and be of equal priority, such places shall be allocated by a draw of lots. The Board of Management may appoint one or more scrutineers for such a draw. A record of this process will be retained in the school.

Thereafter places will be allocated on a first come first served basis with the date of receipt of the application being recorded. Where applications have been received on the same day they shall have equal priority.

In the application of these criteria the Board of Management reserves the right to make exceptions to provide for the enrolment of other children who might be of ethnic minority, traveller children, children of refugees and asylum seekers. Such a child or children must  at least be 4 years of age or older before the 1^st September  in the year of intended enrolment with preference given in order of date of birth from the oldest to the youngest with any child having the same date of birth given equal priority.

 

1. Transfer of Pupils

Pupils wishing to transfer from other schools are enrolled subject to the Rules governing national schools, the Management Board’s school policies and the provision of the Education Welfare Act 2000.

Normally transfers are only considered for the start of each new term.

In the case of such pupils, an enrolment application form must be completed and returned with an original birth certificate along with a report on the child from the principal of their most recent school.

Our school will contact the former school and request an attendance report and any relevant documents pertaining to the child’s educational progress.

Families intending to take up residence in the area should contact the school well in advance regarding enrolment.

In the event of children seeking enrolment in any given class exceeding the number of places available preceding or during the school year they will be placed on a class waiting list and contacted when a place becomes available. It should be noted that children will be prioritised on waiting lists according to the criteria outlined for the enrolment of junior infants at No. 5 above.

1. Appeals Procedure

Parents 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.

1. Enrolment of Pupils with Special Needs

In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with special needs the Board of Management may request a copy of any relevant medical or psychological reports that are available. The purpose of these reports/assessments will be to establish the educational needs of the child relevant to his disability/special needs and to profile the support services required.

Following receipt of such reports the Board of Management shall assess how Emo National School can meet the needs specified in the report. If further resources are required the Board of Management will, prior to enrolment, request the Department of Education and Science to provide the required resources. These may include any combination of the following visiting teacher service, resource teacher for special needs, special needs assistant, specialised equipment or furniture, transport or other services.

The school principal will meet with the parents/guardians of the child to discuss the child’s needs and the suitability and capability of Emo N.S.to meet those needs. If necessary, a full case conference may be called which may include parents, principal class teacher, learning support teacher, resource teacher, psychologist and medical personnel.

1. Code of Behaviour

Children enrolled in Emo N.S. 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. The Code of Behaviour will be distributed at the meeting for new parents in May/June. Parents will be requested to confirm in writing that this Code of Behaviour is acceptable to them and that they shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with same.

This policy was approved by the Board of Management at its meeting of December 2015  and shall be reviewed each November  by the Board of Management and changed where deemed necessary and appropriate.