Parents/Guardians Application Independent Schools
Under Section 14 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, Tusla is responsible for maintaining a register of all children who are home educated or who attend a non-recognised/Independent School.
A recognised school is defined under Section 10 of the Education Act 1998 Recognised schools must provide a curriculum as prescribed by the Minister for Education and Youth. A non-recognised school or an Independent School is one that is not designated as such by the Minister.
Parents/guardians that choose to send their children to an independent school have a legal obligation to apply to have their child registered in the Section 14 Register, for children receiving an education in a place other than a recognised school. In order to make a registration decision for the children attending the school under Section 14 of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 an Authorised Person will carry out an assessment of the education being provided at the identified Independent School.
If you are a parent/guardian considering educating your child in an independent school, you will find the application and information and guidance below in relation to educating your child outside a recognised school.
You will find legislation relevant to the application process and requirements here.
Application Forms and Guidance
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Who should apply for registration on the Section 14 Register for children receiving an education in a place other than a recognised school?
You should apply for Section 14 registration if you are the parent(s), guardian(s) of a child and you are currently, or you intend to educate your child/ren at a non-recognised/independent school.
You must apply for registration for if your child is not attending a recognised Department of Education and Youth school and if;
- your child has reached the age of 6 and is not older than 16; or
- your child is aged 16, has not completed 3 years of post-primary education and has not yet reached the age of 18.
What do I need to do before I submit an application?
Parents are required to submit an R1 Application to the service should ensure all parts relating to Independent Schools are completed in full in line with the guidance provided. Please ensure that you carefully read the guidelines for completing an application for Section 14 Registration for a child attending an Independent School before submitting your application through the Independent School or directly to the service.
Parent(s)/guardian(s) should liaise with the principal of their independent school regarding submitting an application form.
If I choose to educate my child in an Independent School, when do I need to submit an R1 application?
An R1 Application for children who are attending an Independent School should be submitted to the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service prior to placing the child in the school or as soon as is practicable thereafter for children over the age of age of six years.
Once the service has received a completed application form, you have met legal requirements under section 14 of the Education Welfare Act, 2000. Incomplete application forms cannot be processed. Parents will be required to re-submit a completed application with all required documentation. AEARS will write to parents and independent school principals regarding incomplete application forms and the actions required.
What document do I need to submit with my application form?
The completed application form must be submitted with a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate. If a birth certificate is not available, a certified copy of the child’s passport will also be accepted.
A certified document is a photocopy of an original document that has been viewed, validated and marked as original sighted by one of the following:
- A practising Solicitor or Commissioner of Oaths
- A member of An Garda Síochána
- A Notary Public
- Peace Commissioner
Please do not send in the original copy of your child’s birth certificate, we do not accept original birth certificates. Original birth certificates will be returned; this may take several weeks.
Please ensure that a separate application form is completed for each individual child and is submitted with the signed consent of all legal guardians. The completed form must include the declaration page signed by all legal guardians. Please refer to the R1 guidelines regarding guardianship.
How do I submit my application(s)?
Principals of an independent schools may submit completed applications on behalf of parent(s)/guardian(s).
The AEARS will communicate with the principal of the school your child is attending to confirm receipt of the application.
Alternatively, applications along with a certified copy of the birth certificate can be sent directly from parent(s)/guardian(s) to the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS). Parent(s)/guardian(s) submitting an application directly to the service should liaise with the principal of their independent school
Parents/guardians who submit an application directly to the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS) will receive confirmation that an application form has been received.
Completed application forms can be returned to the Independent School, or sent directly to Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service via email at independent.schools@tusla.ie or by POST to
Alternative Education Assessment & Registration Service
Independent Schools Section
Tusla Child and Family Agency
Floor 7 Brunel Building
Heuston South Quarter
Dublin 8 D08X01F
Parents/guardians should take a copy/photograph of their application for their records.
What happens once my R1 application has been submitted?
On receipt and processing of a valid R1 application, the Tusla Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Panel will make a registration decision for your child. The registration decision is subject to the outcome of the previous assessment of the provision at your school by an authorised person. Where a preliminary assessment has not yet been carried out, the child can continue to attend the school while awaiting the outcome of a preliminary or comprehensive assessment, following which a registration decision will be made in respect of the children attending the school. You will find more information about the assessment process here
If your child attended a recognised school prior to attending an independent school, the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service will write to the previous Department of Education and Youth recognised school to inform the principal that the child’s name has been added to the Section 14 Register and can be removed from the Department of Education and Youth school register.
You only need to apply for section 14 registration once. Principals of Independent Schools are required to provide written confirmation of children that are attending their school annually or as required. On confirmation from the school principal that you child continues to attend, your child’s name will be retained on the section 14 register.
Information relating to children attending an independent school, (non-recognised under Section 10 of the Education Act 1998) can be provided to the Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) and any previously attended Department of Education and Youth school as required.
What happens if my child leaves the Independent School?
Children, whose names are on the Section 14 Register under an identified Independent school are removed from the register on written confirmation from a parent and/or the school principal that the child is no longer attending. Names are automatically removed from the register when the child reaches the age of 16 years and has completed three years post primary education. Where a child moves to a Department of Education recognised school, their name will be added to that school register. The AEARS may contact the Department of Education and Youth school to confirm that your child is enrolled. If your child is under 16 years and they move to another Independent School or if you decide to educate your child in your home, you will be required to submit a new application under that provision.