I am writing to you because your child is pre-enrolled for our school, starting between September 2019 and September 2022. This is not an offer of a school place.
I am writing to let you know about two topics:
1. Our new enrolment policy and transition plan
2. The enrolment timeline
1. New Enrolment Policy
Now that we are a school that is over-subscribed, our Board of Management has been working on a revised Enrolment policy for our school. The new policy gives priority to siblings of children already in the school and gives priority to children who will turn 4 before the end of March in the year they are due to start school. Within each category, the first-come-first-served rule still applies. Please see the new enrolment policy attached.
In order to make the process as fair as possible, we have devised a transition plan for the new policy so that it is introduced gradually. In 2018, 75% of places will be allocated via our old policy, which was strictly first-come-first-served, and 25% of places will be allocated via the new policy, which prioritises siblings who will turn 4 by the end of March. In 2019, 50% of places will be allocated via each policy. In 2020, 25% of places will be filled via the old policy and 75% via the new policy. From 2021, all places will be filled via the new policy.
This policy and transition plan has been ratified by the Board of Directors of Educate Together, our Patron and governing body.
If you would like for us to post you a copy of our new enrolment policy, just reply to this email to let us know, making sure to include your postal address.
2. Enrolment timeline
Now - please let us know (by replying to this email) if you have decided that you would not be accepting a place in our school and you would like us to remove your child's name from our database altogether.
In the December before your child is due to start school, I will write to you to check that the information we have for your child is correct and to give you exact dates for the events outlined below.
One evening in the January before your child is due to start school - Open Evening for Prospective Parents - visit our school to learn about us - I will talk about our school and you can see our classrooms and meet some staff members - please note that this event is for adults only
1st February before your child is due to start school - First round of offers are emailed to parents. Those families will have one week (7 days) to accept the place.
February and March - further rounds of offers take place until all places have been filled
An afternoon in May - the children enrolled to start in Junior Infants will be invited to visit the school
If you are still interested in securing a place in our school, you do not need to do anything at this stage. However, please do let us know if you are no longer interested in the place in our school.
Kind regards,
Caitriona Hand,
Principal,
Citywest Educate Together National School.