Enrolment Policy

General Introduction

The enrolment policy of St. Oliver Plunkett N.S. 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, Owen Daly, St. Oliver Plunkett N.S., Loughmourne, Castleblayney and the School Principal, Adrian Kelly, (Oliver Plunkett N.S. Phone 042 9745055) will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from this policy.

St. Oliver Plunkett N.S. is a Catholic National School for boys and girls under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Clogher and is situated at Loughmourne, Castleblayney. 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 21 teachers including an administrative principal, a learning support teacher and two resource teachers for children with special needs. The school caters for pupils 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. St. Oliver Plunkett N.S. 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 St. Oliver Plunkett N.S. 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 and
respect for the diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society.

Therefore, no child will be refused access to St. Oliver Plunkett 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.

Procedures

Application for enrolment to Junior Infant classes usually takes place in the month of April with parents / guardians making application for their children in the school. As a general principle and insofar as practicable having regard to the enrolment policy of St. Oliver Plunkett N.S. children will be enrolled on application provided there is space available.

Pupils will, as a rule, only be admitted to Junior Infant classes during the month of September. Children may not be enrolled into Junior Infants prior to their fourth birthday. Children must have reached their fourth birthday by the 30th September before they can be enrolled in St. Oliver Plunkett’s NS for that year. Children who are six or older will be placed in an age appropriate class. Children may be admitted to a Junior Infant Class during the school year provided they are transferring from another school

Application Procedure

The Board of Management has determined that the school principal will accept written applications for enrolment in Junior Infants up to 30th April of the school year prior to enrolment. Each February and March 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 up to 30th April. An induction day for infants will be held each year in May where the new enrolments can meet the teacher and their new class mates.

Provision of Key Information by Parents

Applications will only be accepted on the basis of a fully completed School Registration form. This form must be accompanied by

Pupils name, age and address.
A copy of Birth Certificate/ Baptismal Certificate if appropriate.
PPS number.
Name addresses and occupations of pupil’s parents.
Contact telephone numbers in case of emergencies.
Number of children and child’s place in the family.
Previous pre-school/school attended, if any.
Details of any health or welfare issues.

Decision Making

The Board of Management makes decisions relating to enrolment in accordance with school policy. In the event that applications exceed/ is expected to exceed the number of spaces available the Board of Management has determined that priority in the allocation of places will be given to the following groups of children

Catholic children of the parish.
Brothers and sisters of children already enrolled in the school.
Catholic children who live outside the parish who do not have a Catholic school in their parish.
Non - Catholic children who live within the parish.
Catholic children who live outside the parish who have a catholic school in their parish.
Non - Catholic children who are not residents of the parish with priority given to children whose home address is closest to the school (as measured by a straight line on an O.S. map).

Places will be allocated thereafter according to the priorities above and confirmed by the Board of Management at its next meeting. If necessary, the additional criteria of the age of pupils may be taken into account and priority given to older children. In the event of a child not obtaining a place on the grounds of age priority will be given in the subsequent school year.

In the application of these criteria the Board of Management reserves the right to make exceptions to provide for the enrolment of children of staff members, children of ethnic minorities, traveller children, children of refugees, asylum seekers etc.

Parents will be notified of the decision of the Board of Management within 21 days of its meeting at which enrolment decisions are made.

In determining enrolment the Board of Management shall take into account Department of Education and Science regulations regarding staffing provisions, maximum class size and maximum class average and any other relevant requirements concerning accommodation such as physical space, the educational needs and rights of children already enrolled, multi-grade classes and the presence of children with special educational/behavioural needs.

The Board of Management shall at all times have regard for the Health, Safety and Welfare of pupils and teachers and others who work in the school.

The Board of Management is bound by the Department of Education and Science’s Rules for National Schools which provides that pupils may only be enrolled from the ages of 4 years of age upwards although compulsory attendance does not apply until the age of 6 years.

Enrolment of Pupils with Special Needs

In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with special needs, it is the responsibility of parents / guardians of any child to inform the school of any such needs on the enrolment application form for the child’s own welfare. The Board will request copies of the child’s medical and/or psychological reports or where such a report is not available, will request that the child be 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 disability or specific needs and to profile the support services required. Following receipt of the report, the Board will assess how the school can meet the needs specified in the report. Where the Board deems that further resources are required, it will, prior to enrolment, request the Special Education Needs Organiser (NCSE see Circular 01/05) to provide the resources required to meet the needs of the child as outlined in the psychological and /or medical report. These resources may include for example, access to or provision of any or a combination of the following: visiting teacher service, resource teacher for special needs, special needs assistant, specialized equipment or furniture, transport services or other. The school will meet with the parents of the child and with the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) to discuss the child’s needs and the school’s suitability or capability in meeting those needs. Where necessary, a full case conference involving all parties will be held, which may include parents, principal, class teacher, learning support / resource teacher, SENO or psychologist as appropriate. The Board will reserve the right to refuse enrolment in exceptional circumstances if 1) The pupil has special needs such that, even with additional resources available from DES, the school cannot meet such needs and / or provide the pupil with an appropriate education or 2) In the opinion of the Board the pupil poses an unacceptable risk to other pupils, school staff and /or property.

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.

Transfer of Pupils

Pupils may transfer to the school at any time subject to school policy, available space, the provisions of the Education Welfare Act (2000) and in some cases the approval of the Department of Education and Science.

Code of Behaviour

Children enrolled in St. Oliver Plunkett 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.