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St. Louis Infant School

(047) 82913office@stlouisinfants.ie

Park Road, Monaghan, H18 P950

Enrolment Policy

 

General Introduction

This policy is set out in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1998. The Board of Management trust that by so doing, parents will be assisted in relation to enrolment matters.

The Chairperson of the Board of Management and the Principal Teacher will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy.

Our school is called Naí Scoil San Lughaidh or St. Louis Infant School.
It was established by the Sisters of St. Louis who looked after the educational needs of the children of Monaghan from 1895-1999. Now under lay management the staff and Board of Management are committed to carrying on the tradition of the St. Louis Sisters. It is situated in Monaghan Town and is a Roman Catholic School under the patronage of The Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher, Bishop Lawrence Duffy. As a Roman Catholic School (which is established in conjunction with the Minister for Education), we aim to promote the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the child: intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual, including a living relationship with God and with other people. The school models and promotes a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God. It provides Religious Education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and promotes the formation of the pupils in the Roman Catholic Faith.

St. Louis Infant School has an administrative principal,12 mainstream classes , two learning support teachers, four resource teachers of English for newcomer children and two shared resource teachers. It is a co-educational school catering for boys and girls during the early years of their school lives in Junior Infants, Senior Infants and First Class. The working languages of the school are English and Irish.


The school depends on grants, teacher resources and accommodation provided by the Department of Education and Science. It is governed by rules and regulations laid down by the Department of Education & Science. The Enrolment Policy has regard to the teacher resources, accommodation and funding available.


The school is subject to The Education Act (1998), The Education Welfare Act(2000), The Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act(2004) and all relevant legislation. The school follows the curriculum 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 the Department of Education and Science regulations and programmes.

the rights of the Patron as set out in The Education Act(1998)

the funding, resources and accommodation available.

the provisions of Section 14(b) (i) of The Equal Status Act 2000.

The enrolment policy of St. Louis Infant School supports the principles of :

Inclusiveness, particularly 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 enrolment.

Respect for the diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society.

Therefore no child will be refused entry to St. Louis Infant School on the grounds of ethnicity, special education needs, disability, accent, language, traveller status, asylum seeker/refugee status, religious or political beliefs, family or social circumstances.


Procedures


Applicants must be at least four years of age by September 30th in the year they start school. Compulsory attendance at school does not apply until the age of 6 years.

Registration of Junior Infants for September will take place during the last week of the previous February. The principal will accept late applications until the end of June. In exceptional circumstances applications may be accepted in the last week of August. Application Forms are available for collection from the school in advance or can be obtained during Registration. Enrolment form may be downloaded here


The Board of Management communicates arrangements regarding enrolment through;
Monaghan/Rackwallace Parish Bulletin, St.Louis Infant School newsletter, bodies
The Northern Standard, school website www.stlouisinfants.ie Information Notices in shops, pre-schools etc.

Requirements at Registration

Completed enrolment form.

P.P.S. number for child.

Birth/Baptismal form.

Signed form of consent for school activities and testing.

Signed agreement to abide by school Ethos and Code of Discipline.

Provision of information by parents

At registration parents will be required to supply the following information on an enrolment form:
Pupil`s name, D.O.B., Address and addresses of pupil`s Parents/Guardians;telephone numbers;numbers in case of emergency; any medical condition; school attended and if applicable any reason for transfer;family law/Court orders concerning the child/children;

Additional Information

At St Louis Infant School we endeavour to provide the highest standards of pastoral care for the child. In order to achieve this objective successfully it is vital that the school be informed of any relevant situation regarding health, bereavement, domestic circumstances or legal orders which may impinge on the child`s wellbeing in school. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Decision Making

Decisions in relation to applications for enrolment are made by the Boards of Management in accordance with school policy. In principle and in so far as is practicable children will be enrolled on application provided that there is available space. In determining enrolment the Board of Management shall take into account:
Department of Education and Science regulations regarding staffing provisions;
maximum class size;class average;other relevant requirements concerning accommodation;space;of children with educational/behavioural needs;and rights of children already enrolled.
The Principal on behalf of the Board will notify parents of class allocations in the last week of May.


St. Louis Infant School will offer places to children in the following order:

Two thirds of places to children of the Roman Catholic Faith. Applicants must then fulfill one of the following criteria;

Have a sibling(s) in the school.

Have a family history of attending the school.


Be a child of a current member of staff. (Teachers, Special Needs Assistants, Secretary, Caretaker)

Be resident within the boundaries of the Parish.

Students not in the above categories will be considered in order of initial registration.

In addition to the above the Board of Management reserves the right to allocate a small number of discretionary places, to allow for special family circumstances which might arise from time to time.

Once the Board of Management has determined who qualifies for a Junior Infant Place in the School the qualifying applicants will be offered a place in its school.

Appeals Procedure

Under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998, any parent or guardian can appeal a school’s refusal to enroll his/her child.
The appeal must be addressed in writing to the Chairperson Board of Management and lodged within ten days of the refusal. A further appeal to the Department of Education and Science on the official form must be lodged within 42 days of the refusal from the school to enroll.

Admissions Date

The Board of Management of St. Louis Infant School will admit Junior Infants from the end of August until 30th September. A Junior Infant will only be admitted during the year if they are transferring from another school and then a transfer form will be required. In the interest of best practice and to ensure the smooth running of the school and minimal disruption to classes exceptional admissions will take place only in the first week of each term
November After Halloween Break
January After Christmas holidays.
March/April After Easter holidays.
Children starting at the April date may be required to repeat the year unless they are transferring from another school .


Enrolment of Special Needs Children

In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with special needs, it is open to the Board of Management to request a copy of the child’s medical and/or psychological report or, where such a report is not available, to request that the child be assessed immediately. The purpose of the assessment report is to assist the school in establishing the educational needs of the child relevant to his/her 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 request that the Department of Education and Science provide the resources required to meet the needs of the child as outlined in the psychological 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. The school will meet with the parents of the child to discuss the child’s needs and the school’s suitability or capability of meeting those needs. Enrolment may be deferred until necessary resources are put in place.


Transfer of Pupils

Pupils may transfer to the school at any time subject to school policy, available space, and the provisions of The Education Welfare Act (2000) and in some cases the approval of the Department of Education and Science. A transfer form will be required in these cases.


Code of Behaviour

Children enrolled in St. Louis Infant school are required to co-operate with the school`s Code of Behaviour and other policies on the curriculum, organization and management. In particular they are required to adhere to the school Ethos which is firmly rooted in the Roman Catholic Tradition. Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring that their children co-operate with these policies in an age appropriate way.


Ratification and Review


This policy was approved by the Board of Management at the meeting held on November 4 2008. It was reviewed in Sept.2010 and changes deemed necessary and appropriate were made. Amended further in Nov. 2011 and ratified in Jan. 2012

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