The following checklist is designed as an aid to preparing the admission policy. It should be read in conjunction with the Template Admission Policy (see here) provided by the DEY to ensure the policy meets all of the requirements of the legislation.
Preparing the Admission Policy – Checklist
In addition to preparing the admission policy as per the checklist, in November 2022, the DEY published Circular 0075/2022 which required schools to insert further text into their admission statements which is part of their admission policy.
The two specific pieces of text which is required to be included in the admission statements is as follows:
(Insert name of School) will cooperate with the National Council for Special Education in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 relating to the provision of education to children with special educational needs, including in particular by the provision and operation of a special class or classes when requested to do so by the Council.
And
(Insert name of School) will comply with any direction served on the patron or the board, as the case may be, under section 37A and any direction served on the board under section 67(4B) of the Education Act.
In May 2025, DEY Circular 0039/2025 was published. This Circular contained revised criteria for admission to a special class. A further amendment was required to be made to admission policies to reflect the revised eligibility criteria for enrolment in an autism special class. The new eligibility requirement for a NCSE letter is also a prerequisite for enrolment in other types of special classes and in special schools and is required to be reflected in those admission policies also.
Page updated 17 July 2025
