Enrolment Policy

1: General Information

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, Fr John Kelly, Cooraclare N.S. and the principal teacher, Margaret Donnelly, will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy.

Cooraclare 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 Education Needs Act (2004), all relevant equality legislation and Department of Education and Skills (DES) Circulars.

School Name:                                  Cooraclare N.S.

School Roll Number:                    17816S           

School Address:                               Cooraclare. Kilrush. Co. Clare

Telephone No.:                                  065 9059169

Denominational Character:       Roman Catholic

Name of Patron:                                Bishop Kieran O’ Reilly          

Total No. of Teachers:                      6         

Range of Classes Taught:               Infants to sixth.

Gender Orientation of School:       Mixed

The school 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 Department of Education and Skills, 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:

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

Mission Statement

CooraclareSchool is a state recognised co-educational school under the patronage of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Killaloe.  The staff, Board of Management and the community believe that every person should be treated equally and enabled to reach their full potential as a human being.

Catchment Area

The school catchment area of Cooraclare and townlands adjoining it and the Tullabrack catchment area.

2. Process of Enrolment

The Board of management reserves the right to determine the maximum number of children in each separate classroom bearing in mind Department and 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.

3. Enrolment Procedure

Step 1

In Spring of each year, Notification will be entered in the Parish newsletter also in the local newspaper inviting applications for enrolment.  All who contact the school will be told

  1. Closing date for receipt of applications 1st May .
  2. Given or posted an enrolment application form.

Step 2

Within 21 days of the closing date for receipt of application, the Board of Management will offer a place to successful applicants.

All successful applicants will be sent a registration form which 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 enroll.  All pupils will be invited to an open afternoon in June.

Step 3

At the open evening in June, the children and their parents will meet with the Infant Teacher in the infant classroom.

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.

3.1 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 21 days of the closing date for the receipt of applications.

The Board will have regard for relevant Department of Education and Skills guidelines in relation to class size and staffing provisions and/or any other relevant requirement concerning accommodation, including physical space and the health and welfare of children.

The Board is bound by Department of Education and Skill’s Rules for National Schools which provides that pupils may only be enrolled from the age of 4 upwards, though compulsory attendance does not apply until the age of 6 years.  Children applying to enroll in CooraclareN.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)    Children residing in the parish, priority eldest

3)    Children of staff members, priority eldest

4)    Random selection (independently verified)

3.2 Admission Day/Date

Junior Infants, with the exception of students transferring from another school, may only be admitted to the school prior to the 30th September.

3.3 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 be reviewed on a case by case basis and will normally only be considered for admission on the first day of each new term unless the applicant is newly resident in the area.

3.4 Enrolment of Children with Special Needs

On 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 request the Special Education 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, resource teacher for special needs, 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 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, 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.

Code of Behaviour

All offers of enrolment are subject to acceptance of the Schools Code of Bahaviour, a copy of which is appended to this policy.

4. Appeals

The Board of Management of Cooraclare N.S in compliance with section 19(3) of the Educational Welfare Act 2000 will make a decision in writing in respect of an application for enrolment within 21 days of the closing date for the 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 enroll in the letter issued 21 days after the closing date for the receipt of applications. (Please note the address at which the applicant resides will be the address used by the school for correspondence regarding enrolment).

If the Board of Management refuses to enroll 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 enroll. 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 mentioned 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 schools refusal to enroll.

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 Department of Education and Skills website at www.education.ie

5. Exceptional Cases

The Board of Management of Cooraclare 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 Department of Education and Skills, 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.

6. POLICY REVIEW

The Enrolment Policy will be reviewed annually by the Board of Management. The recommended time for this review should be before December each year and will be based on a Pupil/Teacher ratio policy of the D.E.S. pertinent at that time. If the Pupil/Teacher ratio policy is subsequently altered by the D.E.S, then the Board of Management has the right to review the enrolment policy.

Appendix (i)     Enrolment Application Form

Appendix (ii)    Registration Form

Appendix (iii)   Guardianship Form

Appendix (iv)   Code of Bahaviour

Policy Approval/Ratification

The policy was ratified by the Board of Management of Cooraclare N.S on _________________

Signed:__________________________ Chairperson, Board of Management.

          Mάire Reeves.

The contents of this policy have been approved by St. Senan’s Education Office, acting on behalf of the Patron.