This enrolment policy 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 of Loughquittane N.S., Lily Cronin, and the principal, Alison Coffey, will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy.
Loughquittane N.S. operates under the Rules for National Schools, The Education Act (1998), The Education Welfare Act (2000), enacted sections of the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004), all relevant equality legislation and the Department of Education and Skills (DES). Loughquittane N.S will implement an enrolment policy which is non-discriminatory and is applied fairly in respect to all applicants.
Section 1: General Information
School Name: Loughquittane N.S
School Roll Number: 10049M
School Address: Muckross, Killarney, Co. Kerry
Telephone No.: 064-6634765
Range of Classes Taught: Infants to sixth class
Gender Orientation of School: Mixed
School Day: 9:00am to 1:40 for infants and 2:40 for 1st – 6th
Teachers: 6 including 4 mainstream and 2 support teachers
Denominational Character: Loughquittane N.S. is a Roman Catholic School under the patronage of the Bishop of Kerry. Religious instruction in the Roman Catholic faith is provided.
Loughquittane N.S. depends on the grants and teacher resources provided by the
Department of Education and Skills, and it operates within the regulations laid down, from
time to time, by the Department. School policy has regard to the resources and funding
available.
The school follows the curricular programmes prescribed by the DES, 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 DES regulations and programmes, the rights of the
patron as set out in the Education Act (1998), and the funding and resources available, the
school supports the principles of:
* Inclusiveness, particularly with reference to the enrolment of children with a disability or special educational need;
* Equality of access and participation in the school; and
* Parental choice in relation to enrolment; and
* Respect for diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society.
Section 2: Application Procedures
Provision of key information by Parents / Guardians
The school has a specific Enrolment Application Form (Appendix 1). A copy of this form may be obtained upon request from the school or downloaded from the website. We ask that all applications be completed and returned to the school by January 31st.
A Registration Form (Appendix 2) also forms part of the enrolment procedure. This form will accompany the letter of offer that will be sent to parents / guardians of the successful applicants. The completed Registration Form must be returned to the school within the timeline specified in the letter of offer. Failure to do so will be interpreted as a refusal of the offer to enrol.
The address at which the applicant resides will be the address used by the school for correspondence regarding enrolment.
The completion of an Enrolment Application Form or the placement of your child’s / ward’s name on a list, however early, does not confer an automatic right to a place in the school.
Decision Making
Decisions in relation to applications for enrolment are made by the Board of Management in accordance with school policy. The Board will notify parents of their decision within 30 days of the closing date for the receipt of applications.
The Board will have regard for relevant DES 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.
The Board is bound by the DES Rules for National Schools which provides that pupils may only be enrolled from the age of 4 years and upwards, though compulsory attendance does not apply until the age of 6 years. Children applying to enrol in Loughquittane N.S. must have reached the age of 4 years by August 31st of the year they will commence school.
In the event that applications for enrolment exceed / is expected to exceed the number of places available the following decision making process will apply:
1. Applicants with siblings currently enrolled in the school (including stepsiblings, resident at the same address), priority eldest;
2. Siblings of past pupils
3. Children residing in the locality, priority eldest;
4. Children of staff members, priority eldest;
5. Children of past pupils.
The Board of Management of Loughquittane N.S. reserves the right to determine the maximum number of children in each separate classroom bearing in mind Department of Education Guidelines in relation to class size and staffing provisions. Other factors that may be considered are:
* Size and available space in classrooms.
* Educational needs of children of a particular age.
* Multi-grade classes.
* Presence of children with special educational / behavioural needs.
* Health and Safety.
Admission Day
Junior Infants, with the exception of children transferring from another school, may only be admitted to the school on the first day of the new school year. Junior Infants will be invited for a school visit on a specified date in June, but will not be enrolled until the first day of the new school year.
Enrolment of Children with Special Educational Needs
On enrolment of children with special educational needs the Board of Management will request a copy of the children’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 educational needs.
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 request the Special Educational 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 the provision of any or a combination of the following: visiting teacher service, special needs assistant, specialised equipment or furniture, transport services or other.
The school will meet with the parents / guardians of the child and with the SENO to discuss the child’s needs and the school’s suitability or capacity in meeting those needs. Where necessary, a full case conference involving all parties will be held, which may include
parents, principal, class teacher, support teacher, Special Educational Needs Organiser or psychologist, as appropriate.
It may, in certain circumstances, be necessary for the Board of Management to defer admission of a child pending the completion of an assessment report and / or provision of the necessary resources by the Department of Education and Skills.
Pupils Transferring
Applications for enrolment during the school year will be considered subject to school policy, available space and the provision of information concerning attendance and the child’s educational progress. Such applications will only be considered for admission on the first day of each new term unless the applicant is newly resident in the area.
Code of Behaviour
All offers of enrolment are subject to acceptance of the School’s Code of Behaviour, a copy of which is available at the school, and which may be viewed on the website.
Section 3: Appeals
The Board of management of Loughquittane N.S. in compliance with section 19(3) of the Educational Welfare Act 2000 will make a decision in respect of an application for enrolment within 30 days of the closing date of receipt of enrolment applications, and will inform the parents / guardians in writing of that decision.
Parents / guardians will be informed of their entitlement to appeal a decision of the Board of Management in relation to a refusal to enrol in the letter issued 30 days after the closing date for the receipt of applications. (Please note the address at which the applicant resides will be used by the school for correspondence regarding enrolment).
If the Board of Management refuses to enrol a student in the school, the parent / guardian of the student may appeal the decision at local level. The appeal must be submitted within 10 days of the date of the refusal to enrol. It must be made in writing, addressed to the Chairperson of the Board, and clearly state the grounds for the appeal. The Board of Management will respond within 10 days of the receipt of such an appeal.
If following the conclusion of the appeal procedures at school level, a parent / guardian is dissatisfied with the decision made that parent / guardian has a statutory entitlement under section 29 of the Education Act (as amended by Section 4 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007), to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills. It should be noted that such an appeal must be lodged within 42 days of the school’s refusal to enrol.
Details on appealing decisions on enrolment under section 29 of the Education Act (as amended by Section 4 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007), are available on the DES website at www.education.ie
Section 4: Exceptional Cases
The Board of Management of Loughquittane N.S. reserves the right to refuse enrolment or, to rescind an offer of enrolment to any child, in exceptional cases. Such an exceptional case could arise where either:
1. The child has special needs such that, even with additional resources available from the DES, the school cannot meet such needs and / or provide the student with an appropriate education, or
2. In the opinion of the Board of Management, the student poses an unacceptable risk to other students, to school staff or to school property.
The Education Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child.
This enrolment policy was ratified by the Board of Management of Loughquittane N.S.
Our enrolment policy and application form are available for download by clicking the following link:
Loughquittane NS enrolment policy2017