Newport, Co. Mayo

Phone 098-41442

E-Mail newportmayo.ias@eircom.net

Enrolment/Admissions Policy

The Board of Management, Holy Family National School, Newport, Co. Mayo, sets out its enrolment/admissions policy in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1998.
The Board trusts that by doing so, parents will be assisted in enrolment matters.  The Chairperson of the Board of Management, Mr. Pat Hughes, or any Board Member, the Principal Teacher, Mr. Padraic MacEoin, or any teacher will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy.
Ours is a Catholic school for boys and girls under the patronage of the Archbishop of Tuam, Most Reverend Dr. Michael Neary. The school aims to promote the full and harmonious development of all pupils: cognitive, intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual, including a living relationship with God and other people, and promotes a Christian philosophy of life.
Our contact details are as follows:
Name:                        Holy Family National School
Address:        Newport, Co. Mayo
Phone:           098 41442
Fax:                098 42841
e-mail:            newportmayo.ias@eircom.net
Website:         www.castlebar.ie/education/newport-ns
There are twelve full-time permanent teachers in the school, including the Principal Teacher, seven class teachers, two Special Education Teachers (one shared with Mulranny and Cuilmore schools), one Resource Teacher for our Autism Unit, and one DEIS Co-ordinator. We also have a part-time Resource Teacher, shared with Cuilmore N.S. Our staff also includes four Special Needs Assistants, three of these in the Autism Unit.  Ours is a mixed school with the full range of classes taught, from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. The school caters for pupils aged from approximately 4 years to 12/ 13 years.
Our school depends on the grants and teacher resources provided by the Department of Education and Science.  It operates within the regulations laid down, from time to time, by the Department.  Our school enrolment policy will have regard to the resources and funding available.
The school is subject to The Education Act (1998), The Education Welfare Act (2000), The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004), and all relevant equality legislation. Holy Family 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 DES regulations and programmes, the right of the patron as set out in the Education Act (1998), and the funding and resources available, the school supports the principles of:

Therefore, no child will be refused access to Holy Family School for reasons of ethnicity, special educational needs, disability, accent, language, traveller status, asylum-seeker/refugee status, religious or political beliefs or values, family or social circumstances
Opening hours of the school are from 9:20 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Infant classes end at 2:00 p.m.

Procedures for enrolment:
In the second school term, the Board communicates generally to the school community through appropriate channels – newsletter, parish news, local newspaper (Mayo News) -- that parents who wish to enroll pupils in Junior Infants are required to come to the school to complete the Enrolment Form.  If unable to do so, they should contact the school to make other arrangements.  As certain information is required when children are being enrolled, a specific enrolment application form is provided by the Board of Management for this purpose (copy appended).
Such information will include:

Decision-making
Decisions in relation to applications for enrolment are made by the Board of Management of the school, in accordance with school policy.  As a general principle, and in so far as is practicable, having regard to the school’s enrolment policy, children are enrolled on application, provided that there is space available.  The Board also has regard for any relevant DES guidelines in relation to class size or staffing provisions and/or any other relevant requirements concerning accommodation, such as physical space, or the health and welfare of children.
In the event of applications exceeding/ expected to exceed the number of spaces available, the Board of Management has determined that priority in the allocation of places will be given to the following groups of children:

Parents will be notified of the decision of the Board of Management within 21 days of its meeting at which enrolment decisions are made. In determining enrolment, the Board of Management shall take into account Department of Education and Science regulations regarding staffing provisions, maximum class size, maximum class average, and any other relevant requirements concerning accommodation such as physical space, the educational needs and rights of children already enrolled, multi-grade classes, and the presence of children with special educational/ behavioural needs.
The Board of Management shall at all times have regard for the Health, Safety, and Welfare of pupils and teachers and others who work in the school.
The Board of Management is bound by the Department of Education’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.

Admission Date
While Junior Infants should, if possible, be admitted to school on the first school day of September, school policy is also flexible, and pupils may also be enrolled during the school year provided they are transferring from another school.
Appeals Procedure
Parents who are dissatisfied with an enrolment decision may appeal to the Board of Management. It must be addressed, in writing, to the Chairperson of the Board, stating the grounds for the appeal, and lodged within ten days of receiving the refusal. Parents, if unhappy with the result of this appeal, may appeal to the Department of Education and Science under Section 29 of the Education Act on the official form provided by the Department. This appeal must be lodged within 42 days of receipt of the refusal from the school to enroll.

Enrolment of children with special needs
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 prior to enrolment.
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 such a 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 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 or other service.  The  Principal will meet with the parents/guardians of the child to discuss the child’s needs, and the school’s suitability or capability in meeting those needs.  If necessary, a full case conference, involving all parties, will be held, which may  include parents, Principal, class teacher, learning support teacher, resource teacher, psychologist, medical personnel, as appropriate.
It may be necessary for the Board of Management to decide to defer enrolment of a particular child, pending:

Pupils Transferring
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.
The Education Welfare Act (2001) requires that information concerning attendance and the child’s educational progress be communicated between schools.
Code of Behaviour
Children enrolled in Holy Family School are required to co-operate with the school’s Code of Behaviour and other policies on curriculum, organization and management. Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that their children co-operate with these policies in an age-appropriate way.
This policy was approved by the Board of Management at its meeting of XX. It shall be reviewed annually and changed where deemed necessary and appropriate.
Click here to download Enrolment Form