Narrabri West Public School

Pre School Enrolment Policy


Endorsed by School Council June 2005

Aim:

 

  • To provide access to Department of Education and Training Pre Schools that is fair and equitable.
  • To ensure the process of enrolment is efficient and comprehensive.

 

Rationale:

 

  • The number of applications for enrolment can exceed the number of places available therefore, eligibility must be clearly defined.
  • It is essential to obtain comprehensive, accurate information at the time of enrolment to be able to program in the best possible manner for an individual child.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

 

  • Children are only eligible to attend Departmental Pre Schools for one year.  The Pre School year is the year prior to entry into Kindergarten.  Parents will be notified of this policy at the time of placement on the eligibility list.
  • In exceptional circumstances, an additional year of attendance may be approved by the principal following written application by the parent/carer with reasons supported by documentation, and after consultation with the pre-school teacher, the parent/carer and other relevant personnel.
  • Children are eligible for enrolment from the beginning of the calendar year, provided they will reach the age of four years by 31st July of that year.
  • Where the number of children applying exceeds the number of places available, names will be placed on a waiting list. Priority of enrolment will be given in the following order:

 

    • Children living within the local school boundary
    • Children living outside the local school boundary who have siblings attending Narrabri West Public School
    • Children living outside the local school boundary

 

Enrolment of Children with Special Needs:

 

  • Provision should be made for the inclusion of children with physical or intellectual disabilities or sensory impairment, depending on the level of appropriate support available.
  • Children with disabilities must fulfill the age requirement for enrolment in Pre School.

 

Waiting Lists:

 

  • Where the number of applicants for enrolment in the pre-school class exceeds the number of places, a waiting list will be established based on the eligibility criteria and the school’s specific priority enrolment criteria.
  • Priority will be given according to the eligibility and specific priority enrolment criterion and the child’s position on the waiting list, as determined by date and time of application.
  • The waiting list application is valid for the year prior to enrolment in the Pre School class and for the pre-school year.
  • A child who has been attending a Departmental Pre School class in one school, and who moves into another school’s zone, will be given priority of enrolment over other children on the waiting list.

 

 

  • If a vacancy occurs during the year, the position will be filled by the child with the highest priority on the waiting list.

 

Enrolment Procedure:

 

  • Parent/carers fill in a ‘Pre School Expression of Interest’ form to indicate intention to enrol for the following year.
  • Applications for the following year will be taken from Term 2 of the current school year.
  • Applications will be reviewed on September 1st according to enrolment criteria and successful applicants will be notified immediately after this by mail. This notification will include the school enrolment form to be completed and returned by September 30th in order to confirm acceptance of a position in the Pre School.
  • Upon receipt of this acceptance by the school, successful applicants will be supplied with a letter of confirmation and an additional information form as soon as possible. This additional form will gather information to assist in planning for the following year. Successful applicants at this time will also be advised of the date of the commencement of the next school year.
  • The following documentation needs to be presented on acceptance of enrolment or the enrolment will be deemed invalid;

     

1)      Birth certificate and/or appropriate legal documentation to indicate identity of the child;

2)      Immunisation records.

 

  • Copies of the above forms are to be made available for inclusion with the enrolment form.
  • In the case where the child’s name does not match the parents, further documentation may be needed to verify guardianship.
  • Before the child attends Pre School a parent interview will be held in the first 2 weeks of the school year. Enrolments at the beginning of the school year may be staggered for up to 2 weeks for the purpose of individual meetings. These meetings will be held to familiarise the staff with new children and families.

 

Immunisation:

 

  • On enrolment, parents are required to provide a record of their child’s immunisation status.  A copy of this record will remain on file at the Pre School.
  • A record will be kept of the children who are not immunised, for reference.
  • If there is an outbreak of an infectious disease in the Pre School, children who are not immunised against that disease will be excluded for the duration of the outbreak.
  • The teacher will send a note home to the family of the child who is not immunised and is to be excluded, specifying the period of, and reason for the exclusion.