Enrolment/Admission Policy of St. Mary’s National School,
Fairview.
Phone/Fax (01) 8377551
Email: [email protected]
Introduction
The Board of Management formulated this policy to assist parents/guardians with all
enrolment matters. In this document parents will include guardians. Parents who need
further clarification on any matter can contact the principal, Eibhlín McGarry or the
school secretary, Catherine Maguire.
Ethos
St Mary’s N. S. is a Catholic school under the trusteeship and patronage of the Catholic
Archbishop of Dublin. It is managed by a Board of Management. The Board preserves,
maintains and supports the Catholic ethos of St. Mary’s. It promotes the role played by
the patron of the school in its daily life.
The Department of Education and Science funds the school (though not fully) and sets
down guidelines from time to time. The Board operates within these guidelines and it also
complies with legislation as enacted and in particular the provisions of:
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The Education Act 1998
The Education and Welfare Act 2000
The Equal Status Act 2000
Vision
Our vision is to enable the pupils in our care to achieve their maximum potential
throughout the various stages in their growth and development.
We aspire to equip them with the skills necessary to live a full life in a rapidly changing
and increasingly complex world.
Aims
St. Mary’s aims, with the resources available, to provide an integrated and multidimensional curriculum designed to meet the intellectual, social, personal, religious,
moral, physical and cultural needs of the pupils in a friendly environment where positive
values are taught and re-enforced.
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Rationale
Within the context of the Department of Education and Science regulations and
programmes, the rights of the Trustees/Board of Management as set out in the Education
Act 1998 (Section 15 (1), (2), and in a manner consistent with its ethos, vision and
mission as stated St. Mary’s supports the following principles;
 Inclusiveness 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 choice of school, having regard for the characteristic
spirit of the school.
 Respect for the diversity of values beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in
society
General Information
There are 15 teachers in the school. This includes the Principal teacher, 10 classroom
teachers, 3 learning support teachers and 1 resource teacher.
The school enrols boys for Junior Infants to First class and girls for Junior Infants to 6th
Class.
The school depends on the grants and teacher resources provided by the Department of
Education and Skills. It operates within the regulations laid down from time to time by
the Department. All school policy has regard to the resources and funding available.
The school follows the curricular programmes prescribed by the Department of Education
and Science, which may be amended from time to time. Accordingly the following
subjects are taught in each class:
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Religious Education (Catholic)
Languages
Gaeilge
English
Mathematics
Social, environmental and scientific education
History
Geography
Science
Arts Education
Visual Arts
Music
Drama
Physical Education
Social Personal Health Education
Extra Curricular Activities
1. Camogie
2. Football
3. Basketball
4. Music: Violin and Tin whistle
5. Dancing/Drama/Concert
6. Homework club for senior pupils.
The extra curricular activities depend on the availability and skills of the teachers.
Most take place in the school yard and therefore weather is always a determining
factor.
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Opening time
The school opens at 8.50am. The Board of Management accepts no responsibility or
liability for any child before this time.
Closing time
1.30 pm Junior and Senior Infants
2.30 pm First to Sixth classes.
Breaks:
Morning Break: 10.30a.m. to 10.40a.m.
Lunch break: 12.00 to 12.30p.m.
School holidays:
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The school closes for holidays in accordance with the rules set down by the
Department of Education and Science. Parents are given a school calendar at the
beginning of each school year, usually not later than the second week in September.
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Dismissal is at 12.00 on the day of the Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays.
Application Procedures
The following enrolment procedures apply.
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Parents/guardians who wish to enrol their child must make the application on the
official application form endorsed by the school. (see copy of application attached)
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You may ring/email the school for this form, call to the school secretary or ask
friend/relation/neighbour to collect an application form for you.
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All sections of the applications form must be completed and returned to the school by
the last day of January of the year of entry. However late applications will be
considered if there are places still available.
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We request applications be accompanied by the child’s Birth Certificate, PPS
number, Baptismal Certificate where relevant, Passport for non Irish born children
and any reports regarding the child’s development if available. Your child will be
registered according to the details on the Birth Certificate.
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Ring the school secretary at 01837751 or email secretary@stmarysfairview if you
wish to confirm we have received your application.
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You may be asked to bring your child to the school to meet the principal.
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On application for a place at St. Mary’s your child’s name will be placed on a “List
of Applicants to Enrol”
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While recognising the right of parents to enrol their child in the school of their choice, the
Board of Management of St. Mary’s is also responsible to respect the rights of the
existing school community and in particular the rights of 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
Board of Management, with due regard for the Parton’s wishes, reserves the right to
determine the maximum number of children in each separate classroom bearing in mind:
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Size/availability of space in classrooms
Availability of grants and teacher resources provided by the DES
Educational needs of children of a particular age
Multi-grade classes
Presence of children with special educational/behavioural needs
DES maximum class size directives
Priority
All decisions in relation to applications for enrolment will be made by the Board of
Management in accordance with school policy. As a general principle all children who
apply for admission will be enrolled. However should a situation arise in the future
where the numbers applying for enrolment exceeds the number of places available the
following priorities will apply.
1. Catholic children living within the boundaries of the Parish of Fairview and
siblings of current students.
2. Brothers and sisters of former pupils of the school.
3. Children of staff members.
4. Other children living within the boundaries of the Parish of Fairview.
5. Other children living outside the Parish of Fairview.
Should the number in any one priority category, when added to the numbers in the
previous category, exceed the total number of places available or maximum size as set
down by the Board of Management, then the applications within this category will be
processed firstly with reference to gender balance, and secondly with preference given to
older children.
Children who are not offered a place at the school may, at the request of the
parents/guardians, be placed on a waiting list for admission should a place become
available at a later date.
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Procedure for Enrolment
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Early applicants will be contacted by the school in January to confirm their
interest in a place for their child in August/September.
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Places will be offered and confirmed to parents by mid February.
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Late applications will be considered but only if places are available after the first
round of offers.
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In March parents will receive a letter requesting them to attend an information
evening. This meeting will be held not later than 30th April. If parents/guardians
do not attend this meeting or fail to make contact with the school it will be
assumed they are no longer interested the place for their child. This place will be
offered to the next child on the waiting list.
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At the information night all parents/guardians will be given information about the
school, school policies and structures. An information pack, which will include
details about the school, uniforms, and lunches, will also be provided. This
meeting is addressed by the principal and at least one other senior member of the
teaching staff.
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Please inform the school as soon as possible if you are not accepting the place
being offered. Places not taken up will be offered to the next child on the waiting
list.
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All new entrants will be invited to the school for an afternoon in June to meet a
teacher and see their classroom.
Dates of Admission
All children will be admitted to the school on the first day of the new school year in
August/September.
Children will not be admitted into Junior Infants on or after the 1st October except
where such a child is enrolled in and transferring from another school.
Age Requirements
Under the rule for National Schools a child must have reached the age of 4 years
before they may be enrolled in a Primary School. Accordingly St Mary’s will accept
applications in respect of any child who has reached 4 years or who will be 4 years on
or before August 28th of the relevant school year.
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Enrolment of Children with Special Needs.
In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with special needs, the Board of
Management may request a copy of the child’s medical and /or psychological and /or
Speech and Language report if such report exists. Where such a report is not available it
may request that the child be assessed immediately. This is the responsibility of the
child’s parents/guardians. (See form “Information Regarding Pupils with Special
Educational Needs” copy attached)
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. All assessments and reports must be submitted to the
school by March 1st as applications by the school for extra supports from the Department
of Education and Skills must be submitted by mid March.
The school reserves the right to refuse enrolment to any student in exceptional cases.
Such an exceptional case could include the following:
1. The student has special need such that, even with additional resources available
from the Department of Education and Skills, the school cannot meet such needs
and / or provide the student with appropriate education.
2. In the opinion of the Board of Management, the student poses an unacceptable
risk to the other students, to school staff or school property.
Admission to other classes
Pupils may transfer from another school into any class at the beginning or during the
school year subject to this school policy and to the availability of a place in the relevant
class.
The following criteria will apply:
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The transfer is in agreement with this admission policy
It is in the best interests of the child
It is in the best interests of the school
It does not impact negatively on any child already enrolled in the school
The parent/guardian makes all relevant information from the former school available
Further information concerning the child’s attendance, behaviour and educational
progress in the child’s former school may be sought by the principal and/or the class
teacher.
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Where a child with special needs is transferring, parents will be required to provide
information concerning the special educational needs of the child at his/her previous
school. (See form entitled “Data required for child transferring from another school”
copy appended)
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Code of Behaviour.
The school has a comprehensive Code of Behaviour and Discipline together with an AntiBullying policy.
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These documents are attached to the admissions policy
Parents/guardians are asked to read it and familiarise themselves with the contents.
Parents/guardians are asked to explain it to their child and regular intervals during the
year.
Parent/Guardian Consents
On enrolment we request parental consent for various activities their child may be
engaging with while in St. Mary’s e.g. school tours, visits to the church, sporting events
away from the school etc. (These are set out in the form “Parental Consents”, copy
attached)
Right of Appeal
The Board of Management wishes to advise parents/guardians that in the event of their
child not being offered a place at St. Mary’s an appeal may be made under Sec. 29 of the
Education Act 1998.
Evaluation
This policy will be evaluated on an ongoing basis.
Review
This policy will be reviewed regularly and changes made where necessary in light of
ongoing evaluation.
Conclusion
We hope this policy will serve as a useful guide for parents/guardians when selecting a
school for their child/ren.
Signed: Kevin O’Meara
Chairperson
Date: 24th April 2013
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APPLICATION FORM
Surname
Date of Birth
First name
Boy
Girl
Child’s P.P.S. number
Address
Year you wish child to enrol
Was the child Baptised
Religion
Home Number
Name of Parish
Mobile number
Mothers name
Fathers name
Occupation
Occupation
Marital Status
Marital Status
Yes
No
Married, Widowed, Divorces, Separated, Single, Remarried, other
Place of child in the family
Number of brothers
sisters
Has or had he/she a brother or sister in the school? Yes
No
Name of brother/sister
Class
Name of brother/sister
Class
Does any legal order under family law concerning the child exist?
Is he/she attending school/play school/Montessori/Creche at present?
Yes
No
If child is attending school/play school/Montessori/Creche please give the following details:
Name of school
Phone
Address
Current class
Teacher
Details of any illness/operation which may affect his/her school life
Any other information of a relevant nature
Signed: Mother
Date
Signed: Father
Date
Please note that this information is strictly confidential and will be used for school records only.
FOR INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN AND CHILDREN OF INTERNATIONAL ORIGIN
Nationality of child
Family country of origin
How long is the child in Ireland
How long is the family in Ireland
Name and address and phone number of school attended in country of origin
How long was child attending school?
What class/level was attained?
Childs English language level
Good
Fair
Poor
None
Is English spoken in the home? Always
Sometimes
Never
Birth Certificate, Passport or other official identification required
received
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Parental Consents
Name of Child: ________________________________
I give consent to my child to go on school tours/trips/sporting events
I give consent to my child to take part in the Relationship and Sexuality Relationship
(RSE) Programme prescribed by the Department and Science
I give consent to my child to participate in the Stay Safe Programme
I give consent to St. Mary’s to withdraw my child from the classroom for the purpose of
learning/language support
I give consent to my child to go to church with his/her teacher and class
I give consent to St. Mary’s to take photographs of my child for school displays
(individually and in groups)
I give consent to St. Mary’s to publish photographs of my child e.g. on the School WebSite, Newsletter etc. (Child’s surname will not be published on the Web)
I give consent to my son/daughter to use the internet under the supervision of a teacher
I give consent to St. Mary’s to send my child to hospital in the event of an emergency
where the parent or other contact persons cannot be contacted
Signed: _________________________________
(Parent
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Date: _______________
Data required for child transferring from another school
Learning Support/Resource Teacher
Name:__________________D.O.B.__/__/__Teacher__________________
Previous School
Contact No.
Teacher
Principal
Previous Schools
Last Home Address
Attendance
Behaviour
Test Results
MIST
SIGMA
MICRA
Other
Learning Support
Assessments
Relevant Info.
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Information Regarding Pupils with Special Educational Needs.
Name:______________________________Class:_____________________
Address:________________________________Age:__________________
_____________________________________________________________
School: _______________________________________________________
Learning Support received from_________________to_________________
Area of Focus: _________________________________________________
Resource Tuition received from ________________to__________________
Area of Focus: _________________________________________________
Special Needs Assistant support received from_________to_____________
Area of Focus: _________________________________________________
Special Class attended from___________________to__________________
Area of Focus: _________________________________________________
Screening Information:
Screening
Date
Test
M.I.S.T.
Class
Percentile
Rank
MICRA
SIGMA
NRIT
Quotient
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Comment
Additional Diagnostic Information
Diagnostic
Date
Class
Test
N.A.R.A.
Percentile
Rank
Comment
Additional Information:
Further Assessment (e.g.: Psychological Assessment/Speech and Language
Assessment) __________________________________________________
Assessment report available: Yes /No
Additional Comments: (Teacher’s reflections on the child’s progress, special
abilities etc)…………….
Signed: __________________________
Class Teacher
Date: __________
Signed: _______________________________
Learning Support/Resource Teacher
Date: __________
Signed: ______________________________
Principal
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Date: __________