Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:247 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science about a school policy matter (details supplied). [17380/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 15 June 2004
Ceisteanna (197)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the rules of my Department pupils in infant classes may have a school day that is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day. It is a matter for a school's board of management to decide whether the concession should be applied. If pupils in infant classes are being given a shorter day their parents should be notified and invited to collect them at the time of dismissal.
In the event that parents cannot collect their children on a particular day due to exceptional, unforeseen circumstances then the children must be supervised in school up to the time school ends or until they are transferred into the care of a nominated adult.
Schools that have notified parents of their policy would be entitled to expect that parents would comply with the stated policy. It is acknowledged that particular circumstances can arise whereby the implementation of the shorter school day for pupils in infant classes can cause difficulties for some parents. This can be especially so where, for instance, parents have other children in senior classes in the school who would not be finished until one hour after the infant classes have concluded. In such cases parents are required to undertake two return journeys within the space of an hour if the school policy is strictly implemented. Difficulties may also arise due to the organisation of the school transport system where children are only collected at the end of the school day.
In such situations parents should contact the board of management and explain the difficulties that they will encounter if the school policy is strictly implemented. My Department requests schools to take a sympathetic approach to cases where the strict implementation of the policy would cause genuine difficulties for parents.