Divine Word NSEnrolment Policy.Roll Number: 19574H

ENROLMENT POLICY

ContentsINTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................2GENERAL INFORMATION.........................................................................................2RANGE OF CLASSES..................................................................................................3OPENING/CLOSING TIMES.......................................................................................4EQUALITY OF ACCESS...............................................................................................4PLACEMENT IN MAINSTREAM CLASSES WITH SP ED NEEDS…………………….................5APPLICATION AND DECISION MAKING PROCESS…………………………………………………….6TRANSFER OF STUDENTS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS…………………………………………………..7RIGHT OF REFUSAL…………………………………………………………………………………………………8RIGHT OF APPEAL…………………………………………………………………………………………………..8CATCHMENT AREA…………………………………………………………………………………………………8CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES………………………………………………………………………….9CODE OF BEHAVIOUR…………………………………………………………………………………………….9SCHOOL ATTENDANCE……………………………………………………………………………………………9DATA PROTECTION………………………………………………………………………………………………..9PRIMARY ON LINE DATABASE………………………………………………………………………………..9SCHOOL VISITS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………10ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHILDREN NOT WISHING TO ATTEND RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………………………..10

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INTRODUCTION

This policy, in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act (1998), the Education Welfare Act (2000), the Equal Status Act (2000) and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004) and The Schools Admissions Bill (2018) details the procedures for enrolment of students to the Divine Word NS. We trust that by detailing these procedures, it will assist all parties in relation to enrolment matters. The Chairperson / Principal will be happy to clarify any matters arising from this policy, should it be required.

The Divine Word NS is a primary school under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. As a Roman Catholic school, the school aims at promoting the full and harmonious development of the whole child i.e. intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual, including a living relationship with God and other people. The school models and promotes a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Catholic School provides religious education for its students’ in accordance with the doctrines, practices and tradition of the Roman Catholic Church and promotes the formation of its students in the Catholic faith.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Divine Word NSAddress: Marley Grange, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.

Telephone: (01) 4945955Email:divinewordschool@gmail.comPrincipal: Mr. John Williams.Chairperson Board of Management: Prof Daire Keogh

Teaching Staff:▪ Principal▪ Deputy Principal▪ 19 Mainstream Teachers▪ 7 Special Education Teachers [SET]

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Non-Teaching Staff:▪ 9 Special Needs Assistants▪ 1 Caretaker▪ Secretary▪ 1 Housekeeper

RANGE OF CLASSES

The Divine Word NS is a vertical school with classes from Junior Infants to 6 th. Students with special needs are integrated, where possible, into mainstream classes, as well as receiving specific supports from Special Ed Teachers/Special Needs Assistants arising from an assessment by recognised professionals and approved, as necessary, by Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO).

The Divine Word NS is grant aided by the Department of Education and Skills therefore the provision of services and allocation of resources depends on the level of grant aid received from this Department. Service provision is:

1. regulated by reference to relevant legislation, Rules for National Schools (1965) and D.E.S. Circulars and

2. subject to an annual review.

School policy must have regard to the resources and funding available. The types of programmes and services provided may be amended from time to time in accordance with Section 9(Functions of a School) and Section 30(Curriculum) of the Education Act (1998).

Within the parameters of Department of Education and Skills 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:

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

2. Equality of access and participation3. Parental choice of school4. Respect for diversity5. Openness6. Accountability7. Transparency.

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OPENING/CLOSING TIMES

The Divine Word NS opens at 08:40am Classes commence at 08:50 and finish at 13:30 for Infants and 14.30 for others.

SUBJECTS

The following subjects are taught in Divine Word NS:

GaeilgeEnglish MathsS.P.H.E (Walk Tall, R.S.E, Stay Safe)S.E.S.E (History, Geography, Science, Environmental Studies) MusicPhysical Education Visual ArtsDramaReligion

EQUALITY OF ACCESS

Equality of access is the key value that determines the enrolment of children to our school. No child is refused admission for reasons of:

a. Ethnicityb. Special Educational Needsc. Disabilityd. Language/accente. Genderf. Traveller statusg. Asylum-seeker/refugee statush. Religious/ political beliefs & valuei. Family or social circumstances.

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PLACEMENT IN MAINSTREAM CLASSES

JUNIOR INFANTS

Applicant children for placement in Junior Infants must have reached their 4th

birthday before September 1st of the year of entry.

The Board of Management will determine annually, a date for the commencement of enrolment for Junior Infants. This will be communicated to the school community through appropriate channels e.g. parish newsletter, church announcements, school website and school notices.

SENIOR INFANTS TO 6TH CLASS

See ‘Transfer of Students from other Schools’ and ‘Decision Making’ sections

PLACEMENT IN MAINSTREAM WITH SUPPORT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER OR LANGUAGE SUPPORT TEACHER

In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with special educational needs, the Board of Management require a copy of the child’s medical and/or psychological reports (if available), to determine the most appropriate placement for the applicant child and 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. If accepted for enrolment, the child will be placed in mainstream with supports.

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 Skills and/or its agents provide the additional 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:

a. Visiting Teacher serviceb. Teacher for Special Educational Needsc. Special Needs Assistantd. Specialised equipment or furnituree. Transport servicesf. Other

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APPLICATION PROCESS

Application is made on the relevant application form, available from the school office or on the school website. Applicants are required to provide the following documents as part of a complete application:

1. Birth Certificate2. 2 Utility Bills in the parent(s) name dated within the previous 3 months (mobile phone

bills not accepted) 3. A stamped addressed envelope4. Professional reports if applicant is seeking supports available through the

school.

Complete applications only, will be considered for placement i.e. application form and ALL required documents.

Falsification of documents/information may render application invalid.

DECISION MAKING PROCESS

Decisions regarding applications for enrolment are made by the Board of Management, in accordance with this school policy. Every effort will be made to accommodate all applicants. In the event of the number of children exceeding the number of places available, preceding or during, the school year due to the Board of Management being:

1) unable to provide suitable accommodation2) unable to recruit the required teaching staff3) Constrained by Department of Education and Skills guidelines on Pupil /

Teacher Ratio4) Constrained by relevant Health and Safety guidelines.

The following criteria will then be used to prioritise children for enrolment:

1. Siblings of children currently enrolled in the school and children of All Staff2. Children living within the parish boundary of the Divine Word.3. Children of Past Pupils4. Children living outside the parish boundary of The Divine Word.

Priority will be given to oldest children within the specific categories, if such is required.

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In accordance with the Educational Welfare Act 2000 the BOM will notify

parents of their decision within 21 days of receiving applications from

Registration week.It may be necessary for the Board of Management to delay enrolment of a particular child following consultation with parents/guardians pending:

1. The receipt of an assessment report.2. The provision of appropriate resources by the Department of Education and

Skills to meet the needs specified in the Psychological and / or Medical report.

TRANSFER OF STUDENTS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS

In the interests of the continuity of student education, it is the policy of the Board of Management of The Divine Word NS to discourage transfer of students from other schools, other than in certain exceptional circumstances (e.g. change of residence or family moving into the area). For the purposes of this policy, an application to transfer is defined as one from a student who has previously enrolled in another school within or outside the catchment area. Applications for transfer from students registered in other schools within the catchment area will not be considered, except in exceptional circumstances. It is a matter for the Board of Management, in consultation with the other school, to determine if such ‘exceptional circumstances’ exist. The reason(s) for requesting a transfer must be stated clearly on the enclosed application form. The Board of Management will issue a reply to this application within 21 days.

Applications for enrolment under this category will be assessed by referring to the following criteria:

1. Is the transfer in the best interest of the applicant?2. Is the transfer in the best interest of the students/staff of The Divine Word

NS?3. Is the transfer of educational benefit to the applicant?4. Is the application accompanied by all relevant information from the

applicant’s parents/guardians?

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 Skills. In accordance with current legislation, The Divine Word NS will inform previous school(s) of successful applicants, when formally registered.

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RIGHT OF REFUSAL

In considering all applications, the Board of Management, cognisant of the rights of the applicant and those of current students and staff, reserve the right to delay/refuse enrolment [even in exceptional circumstances] on grounds where:

1. Places are not available at the class level sought by the applicant2. The applicant student has needs such that, even with additional resources

available from DES, the school cannot meet such needs and/or provide the student with an appropriate education

3. Non-availability of appropriate accommodation4. Following consultation with all relevant parties, the ‘needs’ of the applicant

would be best served in an alternative setting5. Circumstances are such that the enrolment of the applicant poses an

unacceptable risk to other students, school staff and/or school property.

RIGHT OF APPEAL

Pursuant to Section 29 Education Act 1998, parents/guardians have a right of appeal against a decision of the Board of Management to refuse enrolment.Information pertaining to such an appeal is available from the Department of Education and Skills.

CATCHMENT AREA

The ‘catchment area’ for enrolment purposes is: The Parish of Divine Word (available on request).

CONSENTS:

As part of the application process, parents/guardians are asked to give consent/permission to the school and acceptance of all school policies/procedures in the following areas (this is not an exhaustive list):

a. School Activitiesb. Use of school photographsc. Pupil Personal Accident Insuranced. Use of mobile numbere. Primary Online Database [see below]f. Code of Behaviour/Anti Bullyingg. Use of Internet/Mobile Phones.h. School Uniformi. Leaving the school premises during school dayj. Child Protection Procedures [See below]

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CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES

The Board of Management of The Divine Word NS has formally adopted these Procedures. Procedures are now in place, whereby the school is obliged by law to report any cases or suspicions of harm, neglect, sexual or physical abuse. Copies of these Guidelines and Procedures are reviewed annually and are available for you to read in the school [on request] or on the school website at www.divinewordns.ie

CODE OF BEHAVIOUR AND EXCELLENCE

A copy of this policy will be made available to the parents/guardians of the applicant child, either by hard copy or through the school website. In accepting an offer of placement in the school, parents/guardians are deemed to accept terms of this policy and will abide by the rules and regulations governing the management of student behaviour in the school as set out in this policy document. An updated copy of this policy is available from the school or on www.divinewordns.ie

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

See policy ‘Attendance Policy’.

DATA PROTECTION

The Divine Word NS operates a strict data protection policy. Information acquired atthe time of enrolment and while your child is attending at the school is classified as ‘strictly confidential’ and will only be shared with other persons/agencies with parental/guardian consent and where such consent is not required, on a need to know basis only. See Privacy Policy on www.divinewordns.ie

PRIMARY ONLINE DATABASE – [DES]

The Department of Education & Skills [DES] has developed an electronic database of primary school pupils called the Primary Online Database (POD) which involves schools maintaining and returning data on pupils to the Department at individual pupil level on a live system. The database allows the Department to evaluate progress and outcomes of pupils at primary level, to validate school enrolment returns for grant payment and teacher allocation purposes, to follow up on pupils who do not make the transfer from primary to post primary level and for statistical reporting.

The database holds data on all primary school pupils including their PPSN, First Name, Surname, Name as per Birth Certificate, Mother’s Maiden Name, Address, Date of Birth, Gender, Nationality, whether one of the pupil’s first language is English or Irish, whether the pupil is in receipt of an Exemption from Irish and if so,

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the reason for same, whether the pupil is in receipt of Learning Support and if so the type of learning support, whether the pupils is in a Mainstream or Special Class. The database records the class grouping and the class the pupil is enrolled in. The database also contains, on an optional basis, information on the pupil’s religion and on their ethnic or cultural background.

The Department has consulted with the Data Protection Commissioner in relation to the collection of individual pupil information for the Primary Online Database. Both religion and ethnic and cultural background are considered sensitive personal data categories under Data Protection legislation. Therefore, it is necessary for each pupil’s parent / guardian to identify their child’s religion and ethnic background and to consent for this information to be transferred to the Department of Education and Skills. All other information held on POD was deemed by the Data Protection Commissioner as non-sensitive personal data.

SCHOOL VISITS

Parents / Guardians are reminded that all visits to the school to meet with the Principal / teachers are by appointment only. This is to avoid unnecessary disruption to your child’s class and learning.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR STUDENTS NOT WISHING TO ATTEND RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTIONThe Divine Word NS is an all-inclusive, Catholic ethos school. The school recognises those of all and no religions. During religion classes, those who wish to be exempt from such classes complete other work. Children can complete agreed work they need to do relation to their own particular religion. Due to lack of space, teaching staff and timetabling, there is no facility to supervise these children in another room or venue.On enrolment into the school parents are provided with a letter /form offering them the choice(s) of participating or not in religious services/choir/ nativity plays (copy attached) During these events an accommodation is made by the Special Ed team or other class teachers to supervise these children.

This policy is subject to annual review by the Board of Management. Specific details regarding numbers etc. will be updated on September 30th of each year.

Reviewed September 2018.

Ratified: January 2019.

ChairpersonBoard of Management

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ENROLMENT POLICYDivine Word School, Marley Grange

Dear Parent/Guardian

As you are aware, the Divine Word NS is inclusive and we have children of many faiths and none attending the school. The Divine Word NS is also a Catholic ethos school and therefore we follow the Catholic Religious Programme, Grow in Love. Children take part in these lessons during the school day. If you do not wish your child to be involved in these lessons please indicate below. However due to supervision and insurance issues your child will remain in the classroom and be assigned alternative school work. As a school we also take part in sacramental preparations for Communion and Confirmation and pray at certain times during the day.

Children in 3rd and 5th classes form the choirs for these sacramental events which would involve practices in the church and attendance in the church on the actual Sacrament day.

From time to time we visit the church and attend religious services.We are aware that your child has been registered as a non-Catholic and therefore to update our records and procedures would ask you to complete the following:

Yes No1. My child can attend the church or any church services. Please tick

Please note that the 6th class graduation is held every year in the church as our school hall is too small to cater for the large numbers attending.

2. When my child reaches 6th class he/she can attend Yes No the Graduation practices and ceremony in the church. Please tick3. My child can take part in the Religious Yes No Education programme during class time. Please tick

4. My child can be part of the First Communion Yes No or Confirmation choir. Please tick

5. My child can take part in the Christmas class Yes No nativity play/production. Please tick

6. My child can take part in the Christmas Yes No carol practices and service (3rd to 6th) Please tick

Childs Name:……………………………………….. Class: …………………………………..Parents/ Guardian Signature: …………………………………………………………………Thank you for your co-operation and assistance.John WilliamsPrincipal

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