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Enrolment Policy

Class for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

St Cronan's Junior School, Brackenstown, Swords, Co. Dublin.

Rationale:

The decision to provide a special class for Autistic Spectrum Disorder in St. Cronan's Junior School, Brackenstown, Swords, Co. Dublin, was taken by the Board of Management of the school in conjunction with the Principal and Staff in 2006. The decision was taken with a view to provide an education in a mainstream setting for children resident in the parish of Brackenstown who have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder and who fulfil the enrolment criteria. The Board of Management notes that it is open to any primary school to set up such a class and therefore does not see itself as providing a service for the entire North Fingal Area.

Our Mission

We aim to offer a positive meaningful educational experience, which allows the child to develop to his/her full learning potential in an environment that offers clarity, predictability and calm.

After a period of time observing, assessing and interacting with the child, an Individual Education Plan will be developed in consultation with parents and relevant professionals. This will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and will highlight priority-learning needs.

These needs will be targeted through the provision of a broad and balanced curriculum.

We offer an eclectic model of autism-specific approaches, including:
- TEACCH (a visual, structured teaching approach)
- ABA (a behavioural approach, using task analysis and positive reinforcement)
- Sensory Integration (exercises to promote healthy sensory processing)
- PECS (picture exchange communication)
- Lamh (augmentative sign language)
- Intensive Interaction / Floortime / Marte Meo / Hanen (approaches that enhance communication and socialisation by building on the child’s lead.

Our Aim

Our class for A.S.D. will be known as 'The Buzz Club' and aims to offer an autism specific learning environment within a mainstream co-educational junior national school. This setting facilitates optimum inclusion as part of the school community with access to mainstream activities as appropriate.

Criteria for Enrolment in A.S.D. Class

The criteria for enrolment to the class incorporating the Dept. of Education and H.S.E. policies is as follows:

1. An Enrolment Form provided by the school should be filled out by the parents/guardians on behalf of the child.

2. This form should be accompanied by an original birth certificate.

3. A recent psychological assessment or a report from a multi-disciplinary team should be provided. A multi-disciplinary team may consist of a Clinical Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Speech & Language Therapist, Social Worker and a Physiotherapist. Please note all reports in operation on a child should be provided to the school for assessment by the Admissions Team.

4. The child must have a diagnosis of Autism / Autistic Spectrum Disorder made using the DSM-IV or ICD 10 by the psychologist or team. The overall I.Q. score / level of ability as measured in the psychological assessment must fall within the Average to Mild General Learning Disability Range.

5. There must be a recommendation by the medical professionals in the report that a special class placement in a mainstream school is both necessary and suitable for the child.

6. Children must be in the 4-9 years range of age to qualify for a place in the class. Children having completed 2nd class in St. Cronan's J.N.S. will be offered a place in the class for A.S.D in St. Cronan’s Senior National School. Children entering Junior Infant level will be granted places based on age. Oldest children being considered first.

Academic Ability

As we are catering for children in a mainstream setting the overall I.Q. score / level of ability as measured in the psychological assessment must fall within the Average to Mild General Learning Disability Range. Children who fall into the moderate range of disability or below will not be deemed suitable for the class.

Support by Outside Agencies

Parents please note that a guarantee of support by outside agencies such as H.S.E. cannot be provided. An application has been made to Beech Park Services to support the class, so far this has not been forthcoming but will be considered for inclusion in 2008-2009 estimates. Children who require speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, etc., will for the moment be dependent on the local H.S.E. services or Mater Child Guidance Clinic

Admissions Team

Each application will be considered by the Admissions Team. The team will include the School Principal : Mrs Brigid Manton; Assistant Principal / Head of Special Needs Team : Mrs Mary O'Shaughnessy; Special Class Teacher : Ms. Sinead Moylan and will be supported by the Senior Management Team. A recommendation will be made in relation to each application to the Board of Management of the school. The B.O.M. has the right to endorse or overrule any decision made by the Admissions Team.

Allocation of Places

The class has places for 6 children and will be supported by a teacher and 2 S.N.A.’s. Places in the class will be allocated as follows.

Children who meet the enrolment criteria and who are:

1. Newly diagnosed and already enrolled in the school.

2. Children resident in the Parish of Brackenstown.

3. Children whose siblings are already enrolled in the school.

A maximum of 2 children will be enrolled each year in order to ensure that at least one place is available each year for children from the Brackenstown Parish area. Children who are newly diagnosed and already enrolled in a mainstream class within the school will continue to be supported in the school by automatic transfer to the class for A.S.D. This transfer should be consented to by the parents / guardians of the child. Complaints / disagreements / refusal will be further considered by the Board of Management upon written application to the Chairperson of the B.O.M.

Children Transferring from other Schools.

Children resident in the Brackenstown area and attending other schools within the parish area will be considered for placement in the class, provided the Admissions Team and the B.O.M. are satisfied that sufficient time in school has been afforded to satisfy all involved that the child cannot be managed successfully in his/her school of choice.

Applications from Outside Parish Area

Applications will be considered from outside the Brackenstown Area as follows:

1. Priority will be given to children resident in the Swords Parish Area or Rivervalley Parish Area.

2. All other applications.

In considering applications from outside the parish area, places will not be awarded to pupils where the enrolment of the child might interfere with a child from the parish area getting a placement for the following school year. Therefore account must always be taken of the waiting list from within the parish area for the next school year.

Procedure for Enrolment

Once a parent / guardian has made an application to the school for a place in the A.S.D. class on behalf of a child, the Principal will undertake to communicate to the parent / guardian the decision of the Admissions Team and Board of Management within two calendar months of the application. This is to facilitate the consideration of the application by the Board of Management which meets once a month. The communication should be by letter.

1. The parents of a child being offered a place in the class will be invited to visit the Buzz Club to meet with a member of the Special Ed. Team and the Principal of the School. Any information requested by the parents will be provided at this meeting

2. The parents may be requested by the school to consent to a visit by the staff to a child's pre-school setting to observe the child.

3. The parents / guardians will be invited on another occasion to come with their child to the class to meet with staff and see the classroom.

4. After placement in the class a relevant Individual Education Plan will be provided for the child. This plan will have an input from all parties involved with the education of the child and will be supported by a psychologist from the N.E.P.S. (National Education Psychology Service) team.

5. The S.E.N.O. will also be made aware of the plan.

6. The plan will be updated on a regular basis by staff.

7. Each child in the Buzz Club will be assigned to an age appropriate mainstream class for integration purposes.

Behaviour

It is accepted that children with special educational needs may display difficult, defiant or oppositional behaviours. All efforts will be made by the school to manage such behaviour using various strategies. Parents are expected to co-operate in this. Where a child's behaviour impacts in a negative way on the other children in the class to the extent that their constitutional right to an education is being interfered with as judged by the Board of Management of the School, the school reserves the right to advise parents that a more suitable setting should be found for their child.

Parents/Guardians whose child(ren) have been refused enrolment may appeal the decision under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, by accessing the website of the Department of Education and Science. The Enrolment Policy will be reviewed annually