General Information

This policy is set out in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998. The Board of Management aims to clarify the enrolment/admissions procedure by the publication of this policy and procedures document. Clarification on any aspect of the document may be sought from the Chairperson of the Board of Management or the School Principal. Maynooth Educate Together is a National School, and as such operates in ccordance with the rules for National Schools and other regulations as may be laid down by the Department of Education and Science (DES) from time to time. It is also dependent on such grants and teacher resources as are rovided by the Department. All school policies must have regard to the esources and funding provided. The school follows the curricular rogrammes as prescribed by the Department of Education and Science and his may be amended from time to time in accordance with Sections 9 and 30 of the Education Act (1998)

The school operates within the context and parameters of all of the above and having regard to the following:

• The regulations and programmes set down by DES and in particular those regulations relating to class size, staffing and provision and accommodation

• The rights of the Patron body as set down in the Education Act

• The funding and resources available

• The health and safety of pupils and staff

The school supports the following principles

• Inclusiveness, with particular regard to the enrolment of children from all backgrounds; social, religious, cultural, racial; and with regard to children with special needs

• Equality of access and participation in the school

Enrolment Procedures

• Children must be 4 years old before the 1st of June in the year that they are due to start school.

• Parents must complete a pre-enrolment form for their child. Key information requested on this form is as follows.

  • Child's name, date of birth, gender and address

  • Parents/guardians names and addresses

  • Contact telephone numbers

  • School year for enrolment.

  • This form should be returned to the school or to the Enrolment Officer. Once it is returned the date on which it was received is immediately registered.

  • Receipts will only be issued if an SAE is enclosed with the pre-enrolment form.

• All enrolments are entered on to the pre-enrolment database in the order in which they are received.

• Priority for a place in the school is determined solely by the date on which the child's name is entered on the Pre-enrolment List. Parents are advised to put their children's names on the list as soon as possible after the child is born.

• It is the parent's responsibility to notify the school in writing in the event of a change of address.

In February of each year places will be offered for the next school year in theorder as per the pre-enrolment list. These offers must be accepted within 14 days or the place will be offered to the next child on the list.

Junior Infants places may be deferred for a maximum on one year. Deferral does not guarantee a place the following year. A child whose offer of a placeis deferred will retain his/her registered date of pre-enrolment for the following years list.

Enrolment of Children with Special Needs

If a child with special needs has been offered a place in the school, the parents will be requested by the Principal to supply copies of any reports(medical/psychological) available. If the child has not been assessed, an immediate assessment may be requested.

The Principal will then meet with the parent to discuss the child's needs and to establish the school's suitability to meet those needs. The Principal will alsomake contact with the relevant professionals who have been dealing with the child.

Where the Board deems that further resources are required, it should, 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 thepsychological 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, resource teacher for special needs, special needs assistant,specialised equipment or furniture, transport services or other.

It may be necessary for the Board in consultation with Principal to decide to defer enrolment of a particular child, pending:

• The receipt of an assessment report

• The provision of appropriate resources by the Department of Education and Science to meet the needs specified in the psychological/medicalreports.

Pupils Transferring

Pupils, with the exception of Junior Infants, may transfer to the school subjectto school policy, available space and in some cases, the approval of the Department of Education and Science. It is a requirement of the Board of Management that information concerning attendance and the child's educational progress be communicated between schools (to come in to beingas per Education Welfare Act (2000).

Where entry is requested to higher classes, during the course of the school year:-

1. An enrolment form is to be completed in the normal way.

2. Confirmation that the child was enrolled in another National School mustbe provided.

3. The child's name will be placed on the pre-enrolment list for the followingSeptember.

4. A place may then be offered provided:

   1. There is a place available in the present class

   2. The child's place on the pre-enrolment list is such that a place would have been offered, for the following September, in the enrolment process.