Enrolment Policy

 

Sacred Heart NS,

Newbawn,
Co.Wexford.

This enrolment policy is being 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, Fr.James Byrne, P.P., Newbawn, Co. Wexford and the principal teacher, Liam Turner, will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy.

 

School Name: Sacred Heart NS

School Address: Newbawn,

Co. Wexford

Denominational Character: Roman Catholic

Name of Patron: Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Apostolic Administrator, Diocese of Ferns.

Teachers in the School: Principal: Liam Turner

Assistant Principal: Geraldine Davey

Assistant Teachers: Mary Murphy

Judy Shanley

Joan Murphy

Learning Support: Irene Flanagan

Eamonn Byrne (based in Sacred Heart N.S. and shared with Adamstown N.S., Cushinstown N.S., Raheen N.S.)

S.N.A.: Liz Molloy

Secretary: Susan White

Cleaner: Claire Bradley

All five classes ie Junior & Senior Infants, 1^st & 2^nd, 3rd & 4th, 5th & 6th are mixed classes.

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 Department. 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, in accordance with Sections 9 and 30 of the Education Act (1998).

Within the context and parameters of Department 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

o       inclusiveness, particularly with reference to the enrolment of children with a disability or other special educational need.

o       equality of access and participation in the school.

o       parental choice in relation to enrolment

o       respect for diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society.

 

School commences at 9.20am and finishes at 3.00pm for all classes except Junior Infants who finish at 2.00pm. The bell is rung for mid-morning breaks at 11.00am and this break lasts from 11.00-11.15am. Lunch break is from 12.30-1.00pm.

 

Enrolment Procedures

Application Procedure:

The Board of Management through the Principal will circularise prospective parents as per parish Records and parents of children already attending Sacred Heart NS (SHNS), plus use Parish Notes, the Parish web site, the school web site, Mass Announcements and notices displayed in local businesses to indicate enrolments are being accepted.

Prospective parents are invited to call to the Secretary’s Office on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday mornings or Thursday afternoons for Enrolment Forms and Information Pack, or to make an appointment to meet the Principal.

The Enrolment Form and relevant Organisational Policies are appended.

 

The Board of Management makes decisions in relation to applications for enrolment in accordance with school policy.

 

The Board, through the Principal, will notify parents of their decision within 21 days of receiving such information (to come in to being as per Education Welfare Act (2000).

As a general principle and in so far as practicable having regard to the school's enrolment  policy, children will be enrolled on application, provided that there is space available.

The Board 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.

The Board is bound by the Department of Education and Science's 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.

In the event that applications for enrolment exceed/is expected to exceed the number of places available the following decision making process will apply. The Board will exercise its discretion in the application of the following criteria.

Whether there are siblings of the proposed new entrant already in the school;

Ages of the children;

Parish boundaries/Diocesan policies,. .

Any specific provision for children of ethnic minorities, including travellers, refugees, asylum seekers etc;

Ethos considerations.

Admission Day \ Date

The Board of Management specify that Junior Infants may only be admitted to the school up to and including 30th September.

 

Pupils to all other classes may be admitted throughout the year, or the Board may indicate that its policy is more flexible and that, for example, pupils may be enrolled at any time.

 

Enrolment of Children with Special Needs

In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with special needs the Board of Management 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 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 Department of Education and Science 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, resource teacher for special needs, special needs assistant, specialised equipment or furniture, transport services or other.

 

The school will meet with the parents of the child 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 teacher, special class teacher, resource teacher for special needs or psychologist, as appropriate.

It may be necessary for the Board of Management 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 and/or medical report.

Pupils Transferring to SHNS from another school.

Pupils may transfer to the school at any time, subject to 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 (as per Education Welfare Act 2000).

Pupils Transferring from SHNS to another school.

The new school shall receive copies of all annual school reports plus an up to date report by the class teacher for the transferring child.

The Principal of SHNS, shall make a courtesy phone call to the Principal of the transferring child’s new school.

Code of Behaviour

 

The school will append its Code of Behaviour to the school's enrolment policy pending the implementation of the Education Welfare Act, 2000 and the issue of appropriate guidelines by the National Education Welfare Board.