Enrolment Policy. Holy Trinity SNS

Transcription

1 Enrolment Policy Introduction Enrolment in Holy Trinity School is set out in accordance with the provision of the Education Act (1998). The Board of Management trusts that this policy will help parents in all enrolment matters. The Board of Management of the school makes decisions in relation to applications for enrolment. General Information Holy Trinity school is a Roman Catholic co-educational senior school, which caters for students from 3 rd to 6 th class under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. The school operates under the Rules for National Schools as amended by ministerial directives and Department circulars. It is subject to the provisions of: 1. Education Act (1998) 2. Education Welfare Act (2000) 3. Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004) 4. The Equal Status Act (2000) The school follows the curricular programme prescribed by the Department of Education and Science, which may be amended from time to time, in accordance with the Education Act (1998). There is prayer in the school and the Alive-O Religious Education Programme is taught in all classes. Where a request is made children will be excused from attendance at formal religious instruction classes and specifically Catholic liturgies. Learning support is provided for pupils with identified supplementary learning needs. Special English Language classes are available for non-english speaking pupils. Ethos As a Roman Catholic school, the school aims at promoting the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the pupil; 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 school provides religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and tradition of the Roman Catholic Church and promotes the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith. 1

2 Within the context and parameters of Department regulations and programmes, the rights of the patron as set out in the Education Act and the funding and resources available, the board of Management of Holy Trinity School supports the principles of: - Inclusiveness, particularly with reference to the enrolment of children with a disability or other special educational needs; - Equality of access and participation in the school; - Parental choice in relation to enrolment; and - Respect for diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, language and ways of life in society. Enrolment As a general principle and in so far as practical having regard to the school s enrolment policy, children will be enrolled on application, provided space is available. Otherwise priority will be given to applicants as follows: (1) Brothers and sisters of pupils in the school (2) Catholic children of Holy Trinity Parish (3) Children of Staff members and children of past pupils who may not be resident in Holy Trinity Parish (4) Catholic children from other districts who don t have a Catholic school in their own parish (5) All children who live within the parish boundaries but are not Catholic (6) All children who are not Catholic and not residents within the parish boundaries. Transfers Pupils transferring to the school are accepted subject to school s enrolment policy, available space and in some cases, approval of the Dept. of Education and Science. It is a requirement of the Board of Management that information concerning attendance and the child s educational progress be communicated between schools. Children with Special Needs Following prior consultation with parents and outside agencies, children with special needs may enroll where it is practicable. The school must be able to meet the special needs and provide the pupil with appropriate education. The Board of Management will request a copy of the child s medical and/or psychological report or where such is unavailable, request that the child be assessed immediately. 2

3 The purpose of the assessment report is to assist 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. It may be necessary for the Board of Management to defer enrolment of a child pending the receipt of an assessment report and/or the provision by the Department of Education & Science of appropriate resources to meet the needs specified in the psychological and/or medical report. Applying for a Place in Holy Trinity Enrolment is by way of written application. Forms available in school office. Application forms are given to parents of all pupils in second class in Scoil Bhride. They are also informed at the time of the important June meeting for parents of new entrants. The Board communicates information regarding enrolment to the wider community through church announcements, the parish newsletter on the school website and relevant social media sites. The board of Management makes decisions regarding enrolment. The school reserves the right to refuse enrolment where it cannot meet the needs of a pupil or in the opinion of the Board of Management the pupil poses an unacceptable risk to other pupils to school staff or to school property. Children enrolled in Holy Trinity are required to cooperate with the support the School/Board of Management s Code of Behaviour as well as all other policies on curriculum, organisation and management. Enrolment into the school is also subject to space being available. The school may be considered full when it exceeds the given pupil teacher ratio at the time. Information given on the enrolment form should be updated in response to changing circumstances. The Enrolment Policy will be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis. Policy ratified by the Board of Management on Signed by Chairperson: 3

4 Enrolment of Pupils to the Autism Unit This autism unit has been established to ensure continued education for pupils enrolled in junior autism units. To enroll in the autism unit children must have a: (a) diagnosis of autism as per DES Guidelines and criteria and (b) recommendation by the relevant professions for placement in a special class for pupils with autism. The application must be accompanied by a written psychological report recommending placement in the unit. The unit is a non-cognitive specific unit. Children in the autism unit will be resourced in accordance with the level of resources provided by the Dept. of Education & Skills and the HSE. These resources may include, for example access to the provision of any or a combination of the following: Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Behavioural Therapist, Home Liaison Nurse, Psychologist, and Psychiatrist. All placements in the unit for children on the Autistic Spectrum are subject to review by the Board of Management, Beechpark Services, St. Michael s House, Dept. of Education inspectorate and the availability of Teachers and Special Needs Assistants. Following enrolment, the principal and teacher will liaise with parent(s)/guardian(s) and relevant professionals of the child regarding the transition procedures necessary for each individual child. Final decisions regarding the most suitable transitioning of the child remains with the Board of Management. Enrolment Criteria for Autism Unit Enrolment in Holy Trinity s autism unit (established 2012) is subject to the standard criteria by the Department of Education & Skills, following an assessment of autism (DSM IV/DSM V or ICD-10). As this autism unit was originally established as part of future planning for pupils enrolled in Scoil Bhride s autism unit, priority may be given to students coming from Scoil Bhride s autism unit. This is subject to our Autism Unit being able to meet the needs of incoming pupils from Scoil Bhríde and available places. If a school nearer to the child s home is or can be resourced to meet that child s special educational needs or if it is felt the pupil s needs cannot be adequately met by Holy Trinity s autism unit, there is no obligation on Holy Trinity School to enroll this child. Children currently attending mainstream classes within Holy Trinity School, with a diagnosis of ASD, accompanied by a recommendation by a relevant professional for placement in a special class for children with autism will be prioritized for placement in the ASD unit. Decisions regarding the suitability of a mainstream pupil for this class setting will be determined by the Principal, in consultation with relevant professionals, staff members and the child s parents. Subsequently, the criteria outlined in our general enrolment policy will apply, subject to the school being able to meet the needs of the child. Final decisions regarding the suitability of the autism unit in meeting the needs of a particular child will be made by the Board of Management. If a child is enrolled in Holy Trinity s Autism Unit and there is a school nearer to that child s home that is resourced to meet the child s special educational needs, there is 4

5 no obligation on the school or on the Department of Education and Skills to arrange for a transport service or to pay a grant towards the cost of private transport to Holy Trinity school. The maximum class size in the Autism Unit is six pupils. If the number of children on the list of applicants to enroll exceeds the number of places available, the criteria as laid out previously in this document will apply once a definite diagnosis of autism has been provided by a qualified professional and acceptable to the criteria as laid down by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). Successful enrolment will also depend upon necessary resources being available; sufficient classroom space being available and the school s capability to adequately meet the needs of the autistic child. The Board of Management reserves the right of admission. The first year will be used to assess the child s educational needs, develop an I.E.P. to address identified needs and to assess whether the child s placement is appropriate. The Autism Unit aims to provide an appropriate education within the requirements of all current legislation pertaining to Special Needs Education. The unit aims to develop the pupil s social and communicative skills. Finally, the Autism Unit strives towards the integration of children into mainstream education (conditional on availability of resources, the level of the child s ability and on suitability for such integration). Clinical/Professional Supports: It is not the school s responsibility to source clinical/professional supports for enrolled pupils. If such services are available to any of the children enrolled in the class the school will strive, subject to parental consent, to facilitate these service providers carrying out their work on site. The Board of Management reserves the right to withdraw permission for such supports should it deem this necessary. Health Board Input Essential services are to be provided by the Health Service Executive. These services include Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Sensory activities. Discharge Policy It is school policy to facilitate the discharge of pupils from the unit once they have reached the age of 12. Pupils who reach the age of 12 by the 31 st of August in any year will be permitted to complete that academic year. This means a June discharge in the following year. Discharge may also be recommended after the first year if the admissions team, after consultation with the parents/guardians, feel that placement is not appropriate. Discharge from the unit may also happen if a pupil is fully integrated into the mainstream school. Application process and timeline Application forms for enrolment into Holy Trinity s Autism unit can be received from the school office. All applications must be made by 31 st January for enrolment of the subsequent school year. Letters of acceptance will be issued before 31 st March of the 5

6 same year. Application forms should be accompanied by relevant professional reports unless the child is currently attending Holy Trinity School or Scoil Bhríde, in which case reports will be otherwise accessed. The Enrolment Policy will be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis. Policy ratified by the Board of Management on Signed by Chairperson: 6