The primary curriculum is designed as an eight year course. It is flexible and child-centred and can be adapted to cater for the individual needs of pupils. Furthermore, there is no official programme for a middle infant class within the primary curriculum. As a general rule, primary pupils should progress from one standard to a higher standard at the end of each school year.
My Department advised the board of management of St. Joseph's school in June 1999 that the three year junior cycle should be eliminated at the end of the 1998-99 school year and a two year infant cycle re-established. It is the policy of my Department that schools operate a two year infant cycle and the retention of the reception year cannot be allowed.
I understand that St Joseph's is included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and as a consequence benefits from the allocation of a disadvantaged concessionary teacher, inclusion in the home-school-community liaison scheme and supplementary capitation payments.
Breaking the Cycle is a five year pilot project and my Department's inspectorate is closely monitoring its operation. The Education Research Centre is evaluating the project. At this stage it would be premature to consider the inclusion of additional schools in Breaking the Cycle.