Introduction
Modeligo National School is a Roman Catholic Primary School recognised by the Department of Education and Skills as a Mixed Primary School under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Waterford.
As a Roman Catholic School, Modeligo National School aims at promoting the full and harmonious development of all pupils — cognitive, intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual — including a living relationship with God and other people. While the religious education we provide is in accordance with the doctrines, traditions and practices of the Catholic Church, we respect and acknowledge the diverse beliefs, religious and ways of life of peoples of all faiths and none.
The school caters for the full range of classes from Junior Infants to Sixth class. It is an inclusive school and caters for children of all abilities. There are three full-time mainstream teachers, including the Principal, and one shared SET (Special Education Teacher).
Modeligo National School operates under the Rules for National Schools and Departmental Circulars and is funded by grants. The staff are resourced by the Department of Education and Skills. The school is subject to The Education Act (1998), The Education Welfare Act (2000), The Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act (2004), equality law and The Education Act (2018).
Modeligo National School follows the curriculum programmes as laid down 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.
Within the context and parameters of Department regulations and rights of the Patron as set out in the Education Act (1998) and the funding and resources available, the school supports the principles of:
- Inclusion, particularly with reference to the enrolment of children with a disability or special needs
- Equality of access and participation in the school
- Parental choice in relation to enrolment
- Respect for diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages, and ways of life in society
The Admissions Policy
The Admissions/Enrolment Policy has been formulated in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998 and has been amended in accordance with The Education Act. The Chairperson of the Board of Management or the Principal will be happy to clarify any further matters arising from the policy.
Application Procedure
Application forms are available in the school office. Parents seeking to enrol children should return a fully completed application form to the school as soon as possible. Parents will be required to indicate their willingness to comply with all school policies (e.g. behaviour, learning support, bullying — see attached forms) before enrolment is completed.
While recognising the right of parents to enrol their child in the school of their choice, the Board of Management of Modeligo National School is also responsible to respect the rights of the existing school community and in particular, the children already enrolled. This requires balanced judgments, which are guided by the principles of natural justice and acting in the best interest of all children. Assisting the school in such circumstances, the B.O.M. reserves the right to determine the maximum number of children in each separate classroom bearing in mind:
- Size of / available space in the classroom
- Educational needs of children of a particular age
- Multi-grade classes
- Presence of children with special needs/behavioural needs
- DES maximum class average directives
- Children will be enrolled on successful application provided that there is space available.
- Junior Infants are enrolled at the start of the school year, provided the child has reached his/her 4th birthday. Normally, Junior Infants will not be enrolled during the year unless transferring from another school. This is for educational reasons as the curriculum is progressive and it is necessary for the child to complete a full year.
- Decisions in relation to application for enrolment are made by the Board of Management.
- Parents will be informed of their child's successful application, receiving all relevant documents in writing, as soon as possible after the decision has been made by the BoM.
- No child is refused admission for reasons of ethnicity, special educational needs, disability, language/accent, gender, traveller status, asylum-seeker/refugee status, religious/political beliefs and values, family or social circumstances.
- The completion of an application form or the placement of your child's name on a list, however early, does not confer an automatic right to a place in the school.
In the event of the number of children seeking enrolment exceeding the number of places available (due to the Board of Management being unable to provide suitable accommodation, or recruit the required teaching staff), the following criteria will be used to prioritise children for enrolment:
- Children living within the parish.
- Brothers and sisters of children already enrolled, including step-siblings resident at the same address.
- Children of current staff and members of the Board of Management.
- Children who live outside the parish.
- In the event of being unable to enrol children in any year, the child's name will be placed on the waiting list in accordance with the criteria as above.
Any pupils wishing to transfer from other schools during the school year are enrolled subject to the Rules for National Schools, Education Welfare Act and Modeligo National School's enrolment policy. It is a requirement that information concerning attendance and the child's educational progress be communicated between schools.
Decision Making
The Board of Management determines the maximum number of children in the school based on the Department of Education's recommended enrolment at the time.
Children with Special Needs
Children with special educational needs are welcome to enrol in Modeligo National School and every effort will be made to provide them with an appropriate education as well as to include them in every aspect of school life. The child enrolling in Modeligo National School will be resourced in accordance with the level of resources provided by the Department of Education and Skills to the Board of Management.
The Board of Management may request copies of relevant reports or request that the child be assessed immediately in order to assist the school in establishing the educational needs of the child and to profile the support services required. The Board of Management will endeavour to have all resources and supports in place before the child is admitted to the school. This may include visiting teacher service, resource teacher, special needs assistants etc., specialised equipment or furniture, transport services etc.
The school will meet with the parents of the special needs child to discuss the school's suitability for the child. If considered necessary, a full case conference may be called which will include parents, class teacher, learning support teacher, resource teacher and psychologist or social workers as appropriate.
Exceptional Circumstances
The school reserves the right to refuse enrolment to a pupil in exceptional cases. Such an exceptional case could arise where either:
- The pupil has special needs such that, even with additional resources available from the Department of Education and Science, the school cannot meet such needs and/or provide the pupil with an appropriate education.
- In the opinion of the Board of Management, the pupil poses a serious impediment to the learning of others and/or unacceptable health and safety risk to other pupils, to school staff or to school property.
(See Appeals Procedure below)
Children of Other Faiths or No Faith
Bearing in mind the Catholic ethos of the school, every effort will be made so that the school is as inclusive as possible. While Catholic education and the ethos of the school permeates the day, children of other faiths or none, where request is made in writing, will be excused from participation in religious instruction classes; however they will remain in the classroom. It will not be possible to provide religious instruction in other faiths.
Appeals Procedure
In line with Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, parents who are dissatisfied with an enrolment decision may appeal to the Board of Management. This appeal 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. An appeal form will be issued by the school to the parents/guardians. This appeal must be lodged within 42 days of receipt of the refusal from the school to enrol.
Ratified by B.O.M: March 2019 Chairperson B.O.M: Sr Veronica Casey
This policy will be reviewed bi-annually.