Enrolment / Admission

Policies

Enrolment / Admission

Cadamstown National School

Enrolment/Admission Policy

 A:   General Information

General Introduction:

 The Board of Management of Cadamstown National School herein states that it is setting out its policy in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, that the Board of Management trusts that by so doing parents will be assisted in relation to enrolment matters and that furthermore, the Chairperson of the Board of Management and the Principal Teacher will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy.

General Information about the school:

Name:  Cadamstown National School, Moyvalley, Co. Kildare.

Tel No:  046 9551308

E-mail: cadamstown@gmail.com

Website: www.cadamstownschool.ie

Denomination: Roman Catholic under the patronage of the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.

Teachers:  Three class teachers, visiting Special Education Teacher.

Department of Education and Science: The school depends on the grants provided by the Department of Education and Science and school policies must have regard to the resources and funding available.

Curriculum:  The school follows the curricular programmes prescribed by the Department of Education and Science.

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

Opening hours:  9.20 a.m. to 3.10 p.m.

Holidays:  As determined by the Minister of Education.

B:  The Specific Procedures for Enrolment:

 Application Procedures:

Parents wishing to enrol their child/children should apply in writing.  They should return a completed ADMISSION APPLICATION FORM (attached) to the school principal during the second or third term.

  1. Provision of Key Information by Parents: Certain information will be required when children are being enrolled. Such information may include:
  • Pupil’s name, date of birth, address and PPS Number.
  • Name and address of pupil’s parents/guardians.
  • Contact telephone numbers.
  • Contact telephone numbers of other people (in case of an emergency) when the parents/guardians can’t be contacted.
  • Details of any medical conditions which the school should be aware of.
  • Religion or none.
  • Previous schools attended, if any, and reasons for transfer, if applicable
  • Any other relevant information.
  1. Decision-Making:

Decisions in relation to applications for enrolment are made by the Board of Management of the school in accordance with school policy.  Equality of access is the key value that determines the enrolment of children to our school. No child is refused admission for reasons of ethnicity, special educational needs, disability, language/accent, gender, traveller status, asylum-seeker/refugee status, religious or political beliefs & values, family or social circumstances.

Pupils may only be enrolled from the age of 4 years and upwards.

In the event that the number of applications for enrolment exceeds the number of places available the BOM will give priority to applicants on the following basis:

  • siblings of pupils
  • those residing in the school’s catchment area
  • age
  1. Admission Day/Date:

Junior infants may only be admitted to the school on 1st September.

Pupils who are newly resident in the area may be enrolled during the school year.

 Enrolment of Children with Special Needs.

The Board of Management supports the right of every child to be enrolled in his/her local primary school. We will therefore accept all enrolment applications on behalf of children from the school’s catchment area. In this regard 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 and training needs of the child relevant to his/her disability or special needs and to provide the support services required. Following receipt of the report, the Board will assess how the school could 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 & Science (National Council for Special Education, see Circular 01/05) 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, etc. The school will meet the parents 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 should be held, which may include parents, Principal, class teacher, special education teacher for special needs or psychologist as appropriate. It may be necessary for the Board of Management to decide to defer enrolment of a particular child, pending:

  • the receipt of an assessment report; and/or
  • the provision of appropriate resources by the Department of Education & Science to meet the needs specified in the Psychological and/or medical report.
  1. Pupils Transferring from Neighbouring Schools

 The parents of pupils wishing to transfer from neighbouring schools should apply in writing to the Board of Management and state the reason(s) for the transfer request. The Board of Management will then meet as soon as is practically possible and make a decision on the enrolment application.

The Board of Management will take the following factors into account in making its decision:

  1. An attempt having been made at conflict resolution (if needed) with the teachers or Board of Management of the previous school
  2. Information concerning the child’s attendance, educational progress and behaviour being received from the previous school;
  3. Adequate space being available in the classroom to accommodate the extra pupil(s).
  4. The ability of the teacher to meet the needs of the transferring pupil in light of the fact that each class is multi-grade and may have up to four classes/grades to teach.

The Education Welfare Act (2000) contains some specific new provisions in relation to the transfer of pupils including the requirement that information concerning attendance and the child’s educational progress should be communicated between schools.

  1. Code of Behaviour

Children enrolled in our school are required to co-operate with and support the School/Board of Management’s Code of Behaviour and Discipline as well as all other policies on curriculum, organisation and management.  The B.O.M. places Parents/Guardians responsible for ensuring that their child(ren) co-operate with these policies in an age-appropriate way.

 This policy may be added to and revised from time-to-time by the Board of Management.                

Following  process of review by the teaching staff and consultation with members of the Parents Association this policy formally adopted by the Board of Management at a meeting on 13th of February, 2018.

Signed: _____________________ DATE: 13/02/2018

 . Mr. Martin Ryan, Chairperson

  Signed,______________________ DATE: 13/02/2018

  Patrick Judge, Principal Teacher and Secretary.

  CADAMSTOWN  NATIONAL  SCHOOL.

APPLICATION FORM FOR ADMISSION OF NEW PUPILS

 Name of Child as on Birth Cert_________________________________________________

Irish Version of Child’s Name (If known) ________________________________________

Home Address and Landline No. (If any) ____________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

PPS NO.________________________________

Date of Birth _________________________

Mother’s Name and Mobile No. _____________________________________________________

Father’s Name and Mobile No. _____________________________________________________

Religious Denomination (If any) ____________________________________________________

Date and Place of Baptism (If relevant)_______________________________________________

Arrangements to be made if the child is ill in school (People to be contacted and phone numbers if parents can’t be contacted) ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

Name of Family Doctor  _______________________________Tel No.______________________

Do you give permission to take your child straight to hospital in case of a serious illness or accident?  ___________________

Names of those, other than parents, who may collect your child from school _______________

_________________________________________________________________________________

(The school should be made aware of any court order which affects the child’s welfare

and also the name of any person into whose custody the child should not be given.)

 Do you agree with the school’s Internet Acceptable Usage Policy (Which can be found on the Website, www.cadamstownschool.ie ) If so please sign the attached “Use of the Internet Permission Form”?  _________________

 Do you give the school permission to include your child’s photo (usually as part of a group) and name on the school website? (Names will not be attached to photos) ___________

 Is it OK for a photographer from a newspaper to take photos of your child (usually as part of a group) and publish these in the newspaper? ___________________

Do you give permission to teachers or games coaches (approved by the BOM) to bring your child to activities in venues away from the school buildings and grounds?  __________

Do you accept the school’s Code of Behaviour and School Rules (on the school website www.cadamstownschool.ie)? __________________

 ANY OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

For instance, list any problems your child may have in relation to health (allergies,

epilepsy, asthma, sight, hearing, speech, fainting, etc.)

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Hobbies/Interests of your child (at this early stage!)_____________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

We will co-operate with the staff and support the ethos of the school.

SIGNED :_________________________________________________________________ Parent(s)

DATE :_______________

      

  Internet Acceptable Use Policy

 School: Cadamstown N.S. (S. N. Baile Mhic Adaim), Moyvalley, Co. Kildare.

The aim of this Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is to ensure that pupils will benefit from learning opportunities offered by the school’s internet resources in a safe and effective manner. Internet use and access is considered a school resource and privilege. Therefore, if the school AUP is not adhered to, this privilege will be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions – as outlined below – will be imposed.

It is envisaged that the BOM and parent representatives will review the AUP annually.

This version of the AUP was updated by Paddy Judge and ratified by the BOM in February, 2016

………………………………………………………………………………………………

 School’s Strategy

 The school will employ a number of strategies in order to maximise learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet. These strategies are as follows:

Internet

  1. Internet will be used for educational purposes only
  2. Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher
  3. The school will regularly monitor pupils’ internet usage.
  4. Students and teachers will be provided with training in the area of internet safety
  5. Pupils will be taught to evaluate the content of internet sites
  6. Uploading and downloading of non-approved material will not be permitted
  7. Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis
  8. The use of non-school electronic equipment in school requires a teacher’s permission e.g iPods etc.
  9. Pupils will observe good “netiquette” (etiquette on the internet) at all times and will not undertake any action that may bring a school into disrepute

Email:

  • Email will be used for educational purposes only
  • Students will only use approved class email accounts under the supervision of a teacher.
  • Students will not send or receive any material that is illegal, obscene or defamatory, or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.
  • Pupils will not send text messages to or from school email.
  • Students will not reveal their own or other people’s personal details, such as addresses or telephone numbers or pictures.
  • Students will never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they only know through emails or the internet.
  • Students will note that sending and receiving email and e-mail attachments is subject to permission from their teacher.

 Internet Chat:

 Students will not have access to chat rooms, discussion forums or other electronic communication forums.

 School Website:

 Teachers and the school secretary will manage the publication of material on the school website.

The following rules will apply to the school website:

  • Pupils will be given the opportunity to publish creative writing (e.g. poems), projects, photos of artwork and science constructions and other school work on the school’s website.
  • The publication of student work will be co-ordinated by a teacher.
  • Pupils’ work will appear in an educational context on Web pages with a copyright notice prohibiting the copying of such work without express written permission.
  • Photographs, audio and video clips will focus on group activities.
  • Personal pupil information including home address and contact details will not be seen.
  • Pupils will continue to own the copyright on any work published.

Education

  • Cadamstown National School will undertake an education programme to educate children on the safe, responsible use of the Internet.
  • 21st century life presents dangers including violence, racism and exploitation from which children and young people need to be protected. At the same time they need to learn to recognise and avoid these risks – to become internet wise.

Resources that may be used to implement this programme include:

  • NCTE Internet Safety Awareness Video
  • Use of the ‘Kids’ section on the webwise.ie website
  • SAFT Internet Safety Awareness Education Programme and exemplars

Filtering:

Cadamstown National School has filtering software. The access to websites from all school computers is monitored and regularly reviewed by the NCTE. Websites are only allowed through following a verification of their suitability.

Legislation:

 The school will be aware of the following legislation relating to use of the internet which teachers and parents should familiarise themselves with:

  • Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003
  • Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998
  • Interception Act 1993
  • Video Recordings Act 1989
  • The Data Protection Act 1988

Sanctions:

If a pupil deliberately misuses the internet or email, this will result in disciplinary action, including the withdrawal of access privileges. Parents/guardians will receive written notification of misuse by a pupil.

 Signed

 Mr. Martin Ryan                             DATE

CHAIRPERSON

 Patrick Judge                                DATE

SECRETARY

 Use of the Internet Permission Form

 Please review the attached school Internet Acceptable Use Policy, sign and return this permission form to the school.

 Name of School: Cadamstown N.S., Moyvalley, Co. Kildare.

Name of Pupil:          ______________________

Class/Year:                ______________________

 Pupil

I agree to follow the school’s Acceptable Use Policy on the use of the Internet (available under the ‘Parents’ tab on the School Website, www.cadamstownschool.ie). I will use the Internet in a responsible way and obey all the rules explained to me by the school.

Pupil’s Signature: ________________________    Date:  __________

 Parent/Guardian

As the parent or legal guardian of the above pupil, I have read the Acceptable Use Policy and grant permission for my son or daughter or the child in my care to access the Internet. I understand that Internet access is intended for educational purposes. I also understand that every reasonable precaution has been taken by the school to provide for online safety but the school cannot be held responsible in the unlikely event that pupils access unsuitable websites.

I accept the above paragraph ⃞        I do not accept the above paragraph ⃞

(Please tick as appropriate)

In relation to the school website, I accept that my child’s photo and schoolwork may be chosen for inclusion on the website. I understand and accept the terms of the Acceptable Use Policy in this regard.

I accept the above paragraph ⃞                  I do not accept the above paragraph ⃞

(Please tick as appropriate)

Signature: ____________________Date:___________________