Enrolment

Policy
Of
Bunscoil
Mhuire














Bunscoil Mhuire, OBriens Place, Youghal. Co. Cork. Tel.: 024-93234. Fax.: 024-92700. Email: secbsm@eircom.net.
Guided by our Lady with arms outstretched we welcome all to share in our dream of working and
learning in a Catholic and all encompassing environment, striving so that everyone may reach their true
potential, building a strong foundation for future endeavour.

Bunscoil Mhuire is a Roman Catholic school. The ethos of our school is based on the teachings of Jesus
Christ and the Roman Catholic Church, under the protection and guidance of our Lady. Our ethos is
inspired by the example provided by the life of our Saviour and the loving care of our Mother.

Bunscoil Mhuire is a co-educational primary school under the patronage of the Roman Catholic Bishop of
Cloyne. The school aims to promote the full and harmonious development of all pupils: cognitive,
intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual, including a living relationship with God and other
people and promotes a Christian philosophy of life.

There are 27 full time teachers, including the principal, resource teachers, learning support teachers,
language support teachers, employed in the school. Bunscoil Mhuire is a mixed school and it caters for
the full range of classes from Junior Infants to Sixth class.

Children enrolled in Bunscoil Mhuire, are required to co-operate with and support the schools Code of
Behaviour as well as all other policies. Parents/Guardians are responsible for ensuring that their child(ren)
co-operate with these policies in an age-appropriate way. A copy of the Code of Behaviour will be issued
to all parents and each parent will be requested to sign an undertaking to uphold the school Code of
Behaviour and Discipline Policy.

Bunscoil Mhuire operates under the Rules for National Schools and Departmental Circulars and is funded
by grants and with teachers resourced by the Department of Education and Science. The school is subject
to The Education Act (1998), The Education Welfare Act (2000), The Education for Persons with Special
Education Needs Act (2004) and all relevant equality legislation. Bunscoil Mhuire follows the curricular
programmes laid down by the Department of Education and Science, which may be amended from time
to time, in accordance with Sections 9 and 30 of The Education Act (1998). School policy has regard to
the resources and funding available.

Within the context and parameters of the 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 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.

Application Procedure
The Board of Management will communicate generally to the school community through the Youghal
parish bulletin/newsletter and our own letters, inviting applications for enrolment. This notice is sent out
during the second term.

Parents seeking to enrol their child(ren) in Bunscoil Mhuire should return a completed enrolment
application form (available in the office) with an original birth/adoption certificate, a Baptismal
Certificate (if the child was baptised outside of the Parish of Youghal) where applicable and a photograph
of the child to the school. The annual closing date for the receipt of the above mentioned documents will
be announced by the school and will not be later than the 30
th
of April each year. Parents of children
enrolled in Junior Infants will be invited to an open day in the school. The open day will be held usually
in May or June each year.

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.

While recognising the rights of the parents to enrol their child in the school of their choice, the Board of
Management of Bunscoil Mhuire is also responsible to respect the rights of the existing school
community and in particular, the children already enrolled. This requires balanced judgements, which are
guided by the principles of natural justice and acting in the best interest of the children.

A copy of the enrolment application form is enclosed with this policy and it contains requests for the
following information:
Childs name, sex, age and address.
Names and addresses of childs parents/guardians.
Contact telephone numbers.
Contact numbers in the case of an emergency.
Details of any medical condition that the school should be aware of.
Religion.
Childs Birth and or Adoption Certificate.
Childs Baptismal Certificate, if baptised outside of the Parish of Youghal.
One passport size photograph of the child.
Playgroup attended, in the case of a Junior Infant, or previous school attended in the case of an
older child and reasons for transfer if applicable.
Any other relevant information (including any such information as may be prescribed under the
Education Welfare Act, 2000).

The Board of Management has indicated that as a general principle, children will be enrolled on
application, provided that there is space available, though the completion of an application form or the
placement of your childs name on a list, however early, does not confer an automatic right to a place in
the school.

Admission requests from pupils with a history of violence in other schools towards pupils and staff, may
be refused/deferred by the Board of Management, pending a safety audit and/or professional advice.

Decision making
Decisions in relation to application for enrolment are made by the Board of Management. Parents will be
notified of acceptance of their children and as a general principle, children will be enrolled on application
provided that there is space available and the child has reached his/her 4
th
birthday by the 1st of
September, though compulsory attendance does not apply until the child is six years of age.

To assist the school in such circumstances of over crowding, the Board of Management reserves the right
to determine the maximum number of children in each separate classroom bearing in mind Department of
Education and Science guidelines in relation to class size and staffing provisions. Other factors that may
be considered are:
Size of and available space in classrooms.
Educational needs of children of a particular age.
Multi-grade classes.
Presence of children with special educational/behavioural needs.

In the event of the number of children seeking enrolment in any given class/standard exceeding the
number of places available the following criteria will be used to prioritise children for enrolment:
A. Brothers and sisters (including stepsiblings, resident at same address) of children already
enrolled with priority going to be oldest.
B. Children living within the parish priority oldest.
C. Children of current school staff priority oldest.
D. Children whose home address is closest to the school (as measured by a straight line on an O.S.
map) if the child is normally resident outside of the parish/agreed catchment area.
E. In the event of being unable to enrol a child(ren) from categories A, B, C in a given class at the
beginning of a year, or mid-year, such children will receive priority (in order of A, B, C) for the
subsequent school year over other children on the class waiting list.

Other pupils may be enrolled during the school year if newly resident in the area and there is space
available in the school for them. Pupils wishing to transfer from other schools are enrolled subject to the
Rules for National Schools, Education Welfare Act and schools enrolment policy. It is a requirement of
the Board of Management of Bunscoil Mhuire that information concerning attendance and the childs
educational progress be communicated between schools (Education Welfare Act).

Children with Special Needs
Children with special needs enrolling in Bunscoil Mhuire will be resourced in accordance with the level
of resources provided by the Department of Education and Science to the Board of Management

The Board of Management may request a copy of the childs medical and/or psychological report 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 support 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 schools suitability for the
child. If necessary a full case conference may be called including parents, class teacher, learning support
teacher, resource teacher and psychologist or social workers as appropriate.

It may be necessary for the Board of Management to defer enrolment of a child pending assessment report
and/or provision of resources by the Department of Education and Science to meet the needs specified by
in the psychological and a medical report.

Notwithstanding the availability of such resources, parents of children who are unsatisfied with level of
educational provision in our school are advised to consider a special school, which is designed and
resourced to specifically cater for the needs of children with special educational needs.


Appeals Procedure
Parents who are dissatisfied with an enrolment decision, may appeal to the Board of Management. It
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. This appeal must be lodged within 42 days of receipt of the refusal
from the school to enroll the child.





Ratified by Board of Management on __________________
Date



Signed __________________________________________
Chairperson, Board of Management

Consent Form
The following forms once signed by a parent/guardian remain current for the
duration of the child's primary school education unless withdrawn by
parent/guardian.
Permission to give a change of Clothes:
I give permission for my child to be given a change of clothes should the need arise.
Signed: ___________________________ (parent/guardian) Date:_____________
Permission for Outings and School Activities Outside Of School Grounds
I give permission for my child to participate in outings and activities outside of the school
grounds.
Signed:_____________________________ (parent/guardian) Date:_________
Accident and/or Emergency Consent Form
I give permission for the staff of Bunscoil Mhuire Youghal, to act on
my behalf in case of emergency or accident and to take such action as may be
necessary for the benefit of my child. This decision is to be taken by the staff member
in charge at the time of the emergency.
Signed:_______________________________ (parent/guardian) Date:____________
Permission to be Photographed or Video Recorded
I give permission for my child to be photographed or video recorded during school
activities. Photographs/videos may be used for displays in School and in local and
national publications and for Open Days.
Signed:_______________________________ (parent/guardian) Date:_____________
Permission to Participate in Food Tasting
I give permission for my child to taste food in school.
(It is the responsibility of parents to notify the school of food allergies)
Signed:____________________(parent/guardian) Date:_______________________
Permission for Withdrawal from Class
I give permission for my child to be withdrawn from class in a group or individually
for learning or supplementary teaching support and assessment.
Signed: ________________________ parent/guardian) Date:_________________
Permission to publish Photographs and Work on School Websites
I give permission to allow group and class photographs, which include my child and samples of work to be
published on school websites.
Individual Class Please tick one or both
Signed: ___________________ (parent/guardian) Date_________
Signed: ____________________(parent/guardian) Date:___________________
Permission to Consult outside Agencies
I give permission for the teaching staff and school authorities to consult with outside
agencies if required on behalf of my child.
Signed: ____________________ (parent/guardian) Date:__________________
TO: The Chairman, Board of Management.
Bunscoil Mhuire
OBriens Place,
Youghal, Co. Cork.

Dear Doctor,
The Board of Management of Bunscoil Mhuire requests that the information required below
be provided relating to medication to be administrated to a pupil during school hours. The
parents/guardians have been asked to return the information to the school and to advise of
any changes to this regime. Many thanks for your co-operation in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,

_________________________
Principal

Name of child:..

Medication Prescribed:.

Why is this Medication needed?:

Prescribed Dosage:

Time of Administration:

Method of Administration:

Name of Doctor:

Doctor contact number:

We, the undersigned request the Board of Management to allow a member of staff to
administer medication to our child.
We realise that it is our duty and responsibility to supply the medication and to make sure
that the medication is in date. Should there be any change in the medication I/we will write to
the Board of Management before this change takes place to notify them of same. We are
aware that the schools insurers may be notified of this arrangement.
We hereby indemnify the Board of Management in respect of any liability that may arise
regarding the administration of this medication.

Signed: Signed:.
Parent/Guardian Parent/Guardian

Date: .. Date:

Number to contact in case of an emergency:.


ADMINISTRATION OF
MEDICATION