Enrolment Policy
Introduction
This policy was formulated by the staff of Presentation Monastery N.S. in consultation with the Board of Management in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act (1998). The B.O.M. trusts that, by so doing, parents will be assisted in relation to enrolment matters. The Chairperson of the B.O.M, Ger Murphy and the Principal, Mr Colm O’Suilleabhain of the Presentation Monastery N.S., Telephone: 064 6633687 will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy.
School Name: Presentation
Telephone: 064 6633687
Denominational Character:
As our school is under the patronage of the Bishop of Kerry, with a Catholic ethos, we aspire to treat all children fairly and with respect and to accommodate other religions and cultures subject to the school’s ability to provide the necessary resources and space.
Name of Patron: Bishop William Murphy
Total number of teachers in the school: Teaching Principal, 4 class teachers, 1 learning support teacher, 1 temporary resource, 1 temp language support and 1 SNA.
The full range of classes of boys from 2nd to 6th class is taught in the school.
Funding for School:
The school depends on the grants and teacher resources provided by the Department of Education and Science and it operates within the regulations laid down from time to time, by the
Curricular Programmes:
The school follows the curricular programmes prescribed by the Department of Education and Science which may be amended form time to time, in accordance with sections 9 and 30 of the Education Act (1998), and the funding and resources available.
Inclusiveness Policy
The school supports the following principles:
- 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
- Respect for diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society.
School Hours
School hours are
The B.O.M. will not be responsible for children on the schools grounds outside of school hours.
Enrolment Procedures:
The B.O.M wishes that, where possible, parents who wish to enrol their children in the school would attend the open night held in the school annually towards the end of May. All interested parents will be required to complete a standard enrolment form which will have to be returned by a specified date. All boys transferred from Holy Cross will be brought down for an introductory morning before the end of the last term. It is essential that parents inform the Principal about any hearing, sight, speech or health problems that a child may have. If any legal order, under family law, exists that the school should know about, it is important that the principal be made aware of it. If a child is transferring from another school a transfer form should be completed.
Decision Making
Decisions in relation to applications for enrolment or any appeals in relation to decisions are made by the B.O.M. in accordance with school policy. The B.O.M. will notify parents of their decision within 21 days of receiving such information. As a general principle and in so far as is practicable having regard to the school’s principle and in so far as is practicable having regard to the school’s enrolment policy, children will be enrolled on application, provided that there is space available.
The B.O.M. will have regard for relevant Department of Education and Science Guidelines in relation to class size and staffing provisions and/or any other relevant requirements concerning accommodation including physical space and the health and welfare of children. Ideally, where possible, class size should not exceed 30 pupils at discretion of school/B.O.M.
In the event that the applications for enrolment exceed or are expected to exceed the number of places available the following decision making processes will apply. The B.O.M. will exercise its discretion in the application of the following criteria:
- Whether there are brothers of the proposed new entrants already in the school
- Children of Staff
- Priority given to feeder school
- Ages of the children
- Parish boundaries
- First come, first served
- Lottery
- Ethos considerations
- Any specific provision for children of ethnic minorities including travellers, refugees, asylum seekers etc.
Enrolment of Children with Special Needs.
In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with special needs the B.O.M. will request a copy of the child’s medical and/or psychological report 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/her disability or special needs and to profile the support services required.
Following receipt of the report, the B.O.M. will assess how the school can meet the needs specified in the report. Where the B.O.M. deems that further resources are required, it will, prior to enrolment, request the Department 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 may include access to a visiting teacher, resource teacher, special needs assistant, special furniture or equipment, or special transport needs.
If necessary, a full case conference involving all parties should be held, which may include parents, principal, class teacher, learning support teacher, resource teacher or psychologist as appropriate.