Northland School Board of Trustees
Enrolment Policy
Rationale:
All children within the Northland School enrolment zone, including those with special educational needs, are welcome to enrol at Northland School. The Ministry of Education instigated enrolment scheme is designed to ensure local children can attend the school.
Purpose:
• To ensure that local children can attend Northland School
• To maintain a school roll of between 290 – 305.
• If required, to limit the number of children attending the school, using fair and established criteria as outlined in the Northland School Enrolment Scheme.
• To manage class sizes so they do not exceed a maximum acceptable level.
• To recognise that education is a partnership between home, school and the community.
• To ensure that the process of enrolment and transition to Northland School goes smoothly for the family and the school.
• To ensure that any special educational needs are identified at transition to school so that appropriate support and services can be planned for and provided from the day of enrolment.
• To ensure that families receive appropriate information about the school to enable them to make informed decisions about enrolment at Northland School.
Guidelines (General):
• Northland School will accept all children from the age of five provided they meet entry criteria as outlined in the Ministry of Education designated enrolment scheme.
• Each family will be welcomed and encouraged to visit the school before enrolment at times arranged with the staff. Families will be informed they must stay with their children during the visit/s. Visitors will be reminded that the students in the class are the teacher’s first priority.
• A student will be considered to be enrolled when the enrolment form has been completed to the school’s satisfaction, and signed by the family.
• In the case of New Entrant enrolments the child’s immunisation history and birth certificate must be sighted. A copy of the birth certificate will be retained by the school for all enrolments.
• Pre-schools in the area will be given full information regarding enrolment procedures. This information is then available to be given to their families.
• Families who are enrolling will be given a school directory and made aware of appropriate school policies. Copies of policies will be made available on request.
• Enrolment records for each student will be completed immediately after enrolment.
Guidelines (For Enrolment of Children with Special Educational Needs):
• Planning for transition should commence as early as possible before a student with special educational needs starts at Northland School. The first step undertaken by Northland School will involve planning with the family.
• During this planning stage, Northland School staff will attend IEP (Individual Education Plan) meetings where transition can be planned.
• In consultation with families, information and advice will also be sought from Group Special Education personnel to ensure that the programme for the inclusion of the student at Northland School is properly designed and supported.
• Funding to provide support will be sought from the Ministry of Education and other appropriate agencies.
• Consideration will be given to the provision of funding from the school’s Special Education Grant, for needs not covered by direct Ministry of Education funding.
To be read in conjunction with the Northland School Enrolment Scheme.
Approved: 14 June 2007
Review Date: 2010