Enrolment Policy

1. Enrolment in the Special Class is restricted to children with a diagnosis of autism.
2. Children enrolled in Scoil Muire & Treasa are required to co-operate with and support the School’s Code of Discipline as well as all other policies on curriculum, organisation, & management. The BOM places an onus of responsibility on Parents and Guardians to ensure, in so far as possible, that their child(ren) co-operate with such policies in an age-appropriate way.
3. Pupils wishing to transfer from other schools are enrolled subject to the Rules governing National Schools and only when it is determined by the Principal that it is in the best interests of the child.
4. While recognising the right of parents to enrol their child in the school of their choice, the Board of Management of Scoil Muire agus Treasa is obliged to respect the rights of the existing school community and in particular, the children already enrolled. The BOM reserves the right to determine the maximum number of children in each separate classroom bearing in mind:
   1. available space in classrooms
   2. DES maximum class size directives
5. Parents seeking to enrol their child(ren) in Scoil Muire agus Treasa, Swinford are requested to return a completed Enrolment Application Form with an original Birth / Adoption Certificate to the school by 31st May each year. The form is available in the office or on the school website.
6. While catering primarily for the educational needs of the Catholic children of Swinford, matters such as ethnicity, special educational needs, disability, gender, traveller status, asylum-seeker/refugee status, religious/ political beliefs & values, family or social circumstances will not be prejudicial to enrolment.
7. Scoil Muire & Treasa is a Catholic co-educational primary school. Its primary purpose is to provide an education for the Catholic children of Swinford.
8. This enrolment policy has been drawn up in accordance with the Education Act 1998 and other relevant legislation.
   • Application for a placement must be put in writing to the school and received no later than 1st June for enrolment on the following September.
   • The maximum number of pupils that will be enrolled in the class is six.
   • Before enrolling a child in the class the school must be reasonably satisfied that this is a suitable placement for that child. This will be assessed by the principal and the class teacher by reference to psychological and other reports and in close consultation with the relevant professionals who are familiar with the child and with the service the class can provide.
   • Enrolment is normally on a first come first served basis. In the event that there are more applicants than places available priority will be given to children (who already satisfy the criteria in 8b above) in the following order:
     • Children from within the traditional catchment area of the school
     • Children whose siblings are attending the school
     • Children living nearest to the school by road