Please click here to begin your enrolment application for Junior Infants for Bunscoil McAuley Rice.

Bunscoil McAuley Rice Admissions Policy

The school welcomes all students and aims to provide an integrated and inclusive education. This Admissions Policy for Bunscoil McAuley Rice has been drawn up by the Board of Management in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act (1998), the Equal Status Act 2000 and the Education Welfare Act (2000).

 

Bunscoil McAuley Rice is a mainstream Catholic  co-educational  primary school under the patronage of the Bishop of Ossory. It is part of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust network.

 

This Admissions Policy ensures that the appropriate procedures are in place to enable the school to make decisions on all applications in an open and transparent manner consistent with the ethos and mission statement of the school and in accordance with legal obligations.

 

The aim of this Admissions Policy is to inform parents about the school and to set out the criteria under which applications will be considered.

 

(A) Application for admission :

Application for enrolment in Junior Infants in the school is made by completing the school’s online application form on the school website.The closing date for applications is 1st February in the calendar year when the child will begin in Junior Infants.Applications for admissions to all other classes should be made by requesting an application form from the school office.

 

After the closing date,parents will receive an e-mail request from the school for a copy of the child's original birth certificate to confirm the child's date of birth and a copy of a current utility bill to confirm the current address.

Parents/guardians will be informed of their child’s acceptance or refusal within 21 days of the closing date.

The school makes provision for late applications subject to the availability of places.A waiting list will be used if the school is oversubscribed.

The Board will inform the school community of the procedure for application, through appropriate channels, e.g. the feeder pre-schools, parish newsletter, church announcements, school website.

 

(B) Enrolment :

Successful applicants will be informed, in writing, of their acceptance. Parents or guardians are then required to confirm, in writing, their acceptance of a place in the school for their child within 10 days of issue of letter of offer. Failure to confirm their acceptance of this offer in writing will be accepted as an indication of their refusal to enrol their child in Bunscoil McAuley Rice.

Successful applicants may be asked to attend at the school on a given date, for the purpose of assessment, in order to identify and plan for the educational needs of the pupils.

Junior Infant applicants must be at least four years old on 21st August in the year when he/she starts in our Junior Infant class.No new Junior Infant student will be accepted after 31st August unless it is an inter school transfer (see section E).Successful junior infant applicants will be invited to an Induction Day in the school .

 

(C)  Excess Applications:

The criteria for deciding on acceptance or refusal of applications, where the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available, is set down below in an open, transparent and fair manner.The maximum capacity in a class is 28 students.

 

1.Brothers and sisters of children already enrolled in the school & children of staff members, priority eldest;

2.Children residing in the parish of Callan,priority eldest;

3.Applicants from outside of parish, priority eldest.

 

 

(D) Special Needs Applicants :

The school welcomes applications for admission of pupils with special educational needs.

The school will use the personnel and financial resources provided by the DES, to make reasonable provision and accommodation for students with disabilities or special needs, up to a nominal cost.

The school aims to identify, at an early stage, any applicant for admission who has special needs, and to become familiar with the specific needs of the child.

In making provision for children with special needs, the school needs to know if the child has had access to

1.   A special needs assistant

2.   A special class

3.   Help, for specific needs, from any resource teacher

4.   Assistance with behaviour modification

5.   Psychological assessment/School report(copies of both requested)

6.   Any additional resources to help with special needs/Help in areas including visual impairment, hearing impairment,learning disability or emotional disturbance.

8.  Any resource in relation to travel or mobility

 

If an expert report is provided, it should include workable strategies for addressing the needs of the child, allowing for the resources available.

If no expert report is available, the school will request immediate assessment, in order to determine the educational needs of the child.

 

Having gathered all the relevant information available, the Board of Management will assess how the needs of the child can be met.

The DES will be requested in writing to provide additional resources, if such are needed.

The school will meet the parents to discuss the needs of the child and the capability of the school to meet these needs.

Parents or guardians of children with special needs are strongly advised to make early application to the school, to allow time to follow the procedures outlined above.

As soon as possible, but not later than 21 days after a parent or guardian has provided the relevant information, the Board of Management shall decide on the application concerned, and inform the parents or guardian in writing of their decision. (Educational Welfare Act 2000, Section 19, 3.)

 

(E)   Transfer of pupils from other schools :

Pupils from other schools may transfer into the school at any time subject to the following conditions.Application forms are available from the school office.

The transfer is in accordance with the school’s admission policy.

The school is satisfied with the reasons for the transfer.

The transfer is in the best interest of the pupil.

All relevant information from the former school is made available.

Space is available in the relevant class to facilitate the transfer.The required class must have less than 28 students in it.

The Educational Welfare Officer is consulted, if necessary.

 

 

 

(F)    Decision-making Process :

Decisions in relation to admissions are made by the Board of Management, in accordance with school admissions policy.

The Board will have regard for the relevant conditions prescribed by the DES concerning class size, staffing provisions, accommodation, physical space, health and welfare of children and eligibility for admission.The maximum class size in Bunscoil McAuley Rice is 28 students.

The Board reserves the right to refuse an application for admission, in exceptional circumstances, as stated in the Education Act of 1998, (Section 29).

The Board of Management reserves the right to refuse enrolment in exceptional circumstances:
(a)The pupil has special needs such that, even with additional resources available from the DES,the school cannot meet such needs and/or provide the pupil with an appropriate education.

or

(b)In the opinion of the Board of Management, the pupil poses an unacceptable risk to other pupils,school staff and/or school property.

 

(G) The right of appeal:

Parents or guardians have the right to appeal a refusal by the Board to admit their child.

The Board’s decision will be given in writing and the reason for the refusal will be clearly stated.

The parents or guardians will be informed of their right to appeal the decision, and will be supplied with       the Appeals Application Form. (Circular 22/02)
The appeal will be made to The General Secretary, Appeals Administration Unit, Department of Education and Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, on the relevant form.

The school must be informed in writing of the decision to appeal.

 

(H) Documentation:

When enrolling their child in the school, parents or guardians will be requested to complete an online application form and to read the following documentation that is available on the school website:

(1). The Admissions Policy

(2). The Code of Behaviour

Parents and guardians should note that the school has adopted policy statements in other areas of interest and concern, towards the best running of the school and the maximum development of the pupils.

These policy statements can be accessed in the School Office on request or on the school website www.mcauley-rice.com.

 

This document states the Admissions Policy of our school at the present time. It may, however, be subject to adjustments and changes in the future.This policy was ratified by the Board of Management on 23rd October, 2013.It was reviewed and updated on 8th February, 2018.

 

CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

In devising the following Code Of Behaviour for Bunscoil McAuley Rice, every effort is made to adopt a positive approach to the question of behaviour in the school and greater emphasis is placed on rewards and recognition of good behaviour than on sanctions.  We recognise the variety of differences that exist between children and try to accommodate these differences.

Our school rules aim to ensure that each child respects and cares for him/herself and has respect, care, consideration and courtesy for others.

In order that these rules are understood and adhered to by all the students of the school, time will be spent in each class at the beginning of each term carrying out the following Behaviour Programme.

 

PROGRAMME FOR BEHAVIOUR:

 

  • The children of each class will be introduced to the code of discipline and behaviour for the school.  They will be taken through each of the rules and exercises will be carried out to ensure they understand the need for these rules and the benefits for themselves.
  • Pupils from each class will receive lessons/assemblies on the subjects of good/bad behaviour, discipline, bullying, etc. and incentives will be introduced to encourage good behaviour e.g. ‘Student of the Week’ award.
  • The school will investigate the need of talks for both the pupils and parents on the subject of bullying.
  • This programme will be carried out at the beginning of each term.

 

Implementation of Code of Behaviour:

 

SCHOOL RULES:

  • Children are expected to be caring and courteous in their attitude to others – teachers, staff, parents, friends  and other children.
  • All pupils are expected to be in school no later than 9.20 a.m. on each school day unless alternative arrangements have been made with the school principal.  If for any reason a child is unable to attend on time, a written note to the class teacher is expected.  A note should also be furnished when children are returning after any absence from school.
  • Children are expected to move about the school in a quiet and orderly manner, showing respect for classes in session nearby.  In the interests of safety and hygiene children do not run or eat in the corridors of the school.
  • All children must go to the playground at breaktimes, weather permitting.  In the playground it is expected that they play and move about in a manner that will allow all to play in safety.  Certain areas adjacent to the playground are out of bounds in the interest of safety.  Certain games are also disallowed because of the danger element in a tarmac playground.
  • Bullying in any of its forms will not be tolerated.
  • When school finishes each day, all children must leave the school grounds in a quiet and orderly manner.
  • Bad language will not be tolerated in the school.
  • Homework should be done neatly and in full.  A written note from parent/guardian is required if homework is not done.
  • The school uniform must be worn each day except on P.E. days when the school tracksuit must be worn.Boys are not allowed to wear earrings or studs.For health and safety reasons, large hoop earrings are not allowed for any student.

 

POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR:

The school wishes to stress the need for a positive attitude towards challenging behaviour.  The school encourages and re-enforces exemplary behaviour with minimum attention to those who wish to choose inappropriate attitudes:

 

  • Praise and commendation for work well done
  • Recognition for effort
  • Rewards for success and achievement
  • Merit awards
  • Promotion of games, craft and pleasant opportunities to enjoy
  • Certificates

 

 

 

 

SANCTIONS

  1. The overall responsibility for discipline within the school rests with the principal.  Each teacher has responsibility for the maintenance of discipline within his/her classroom while sharing a common responsibility for good order within the school premises.  A child will be referred to the principal for serious breaches of discipline and for repeated incidents of minor incidents.

 

2.  The following strategies may be used to show disapproval of unacceptable behaviour:

a) Reasoning with the child

b) Reprimand (including advice on how to improve)

c) Temporary separation from peers, friends and others

d) Loss of privileges

e) Prescribing additional work

f) Communication with parents

g) Referral to Principal

h)The Principal may request that the parents/guardians take the student home early from school due to serious misbehaviour.

i) Suspension (temporary)

(The above list of reprimands does not have to be followed in order.)

3.In the case of serious misbehaviour or persistent disruption,the following steps may be taken:

a)      Class teacher will keep a written record of all incidents of serious misbehaviour as well as a record of improvements in the behaviour of disruptive pupils and will inform the principal of the problem.

b)      Parents/Guardians will be notified  requesting one or both of them to meet with the class teacher.  The principal may be in attendance.

c)     The Principal may request that the parents/guardians take the student home early from school due to serious misbehaviour.

d) The principal may suspend a student immediately for up to 3 full school days for serious misbehaviour (which includes aggressive, threatening or violent misbehaviour towards a teacher, staff member or other children).

e)     If, after the above steps have been taken, there are repeated instances of serious misbehaviour (which include aggressive, threatening or violent misbehaviour towards a teacher, staff member or other children) the chairperson of the board of management will be informed and the parents will be requested in writing to attend at the school to meet the chairperson and principal.  Notification once again shall be delivered by hand or by registered mail.  Copies of all correspondence shall be kept in the school files.  If the parents do not give an undertaking that the pupil will behave in an acceptable manner in the future the pupil may have to be suspended for a temporary period of up to 5 days.If the pupil poses a danger to other students/staff members, he/she may be expelled from the school.

f)After 3 suspensions , the Board of Management may consider expulsion from the school.

The co-operation of parents and guardians in dealing with discipline and other problems is deeply appreciated.  Therefore we would ask you to ensure your child has a good understanding of the Code of Behaviour for the school and understands the need to abide by these rules.

In order to make this work it is necessary for the school to ensure each child and parent/guardian has received and understands the Code of Behaviour for the school.This code is published on the school website.

The objective of this code is to ensure a safe and happy learning environment for the children of Bunscoil McAuley Rice.

This code of behaviour was reviewed and ratified on 11th March , 2015.