Parents/Guardians Application Independent Schools

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs from August 26th 2020, introduced a new application form defined in legislation to govern the application process for parents/guardians who wish to educate their children outside of a recognised school. A copy of the legislation can be found here

Since 2021 the functions of the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service has moved from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (formally the Department of Children and Youth Affairs) to the Department of Education.

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 home or at a non-recognised/independent school.

You must apply for registration for if your child is not attending a recognised Department of Education school and if;

1. your child has reached the age of 6 and is not older than 16; or
2. your child is aged 16, has not completed 3 years of post-primary education & has not yet reached the age of 18.

What do I need to do before I submit an application?

Parents that wish 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 the identified 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 for them?

An  R1 Application for children over the age of six years 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.

Once the service is in receipt of a completed application form, your child can attend an independent school. Incomplete application forms will not be accepted. Parents will be required to re-submit a completed application with all required documentation. AEARS will write to independent school principals and parents regarding incomplete applications and the actions required.

What document do I need to submit with my child’s birth certificate?

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. The return of the birth certificate may take several weeks.

Where do I submit my application/s?

Please ensure that a separate application form is completed for each individual child and is submitted with the signed consent of all legal guardians.

Principals of an independent schools may submit completed applications on behalf of the parent(s)/guardian(s), along with information they provide to the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS) regarding children attending the school and arrangements for the provision.

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) via post at the address above or by email to independent.schools@tusla.ie. Parent(s)/guardian(s) submitting an application directly to the service should liaise with the principal of the identified independent school regarding submitting an application form.

Parents/guardians that submit an application directly to the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS) will receive confirmation from AEARS that an application form has been received.

Where parent(s)/guardian(s) submit an application via an Independent School, the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS) will communicate with the principal of the school your child is attending to confirm receipt of the application.

Completed application forms can be returned to the Independent School, or can be sent directly to Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service via email at independent.schools@tusla.ie

Alternatively, you can submit your application by POST to

Alternative Education Assessment & Registration Service
Independent Schools Registration Section
Tusla Child and Family Agency
Floor 7, Brunel Building
Heuston South Quarter
Dublin 8, D08X01F

Principals of Independent Schools are required to provide written confirmation of children that are attending their school to the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service. Information relating to children attending an independent school, (a school not recognised under Section 10 of the Education Act 1998) can be provided to the Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) - Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and any previously attended Department of Education school as required.

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 the school by an authorised person. Where an 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 is over the age of six years and they 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 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 school register.

The child’s name once entered on the register will be retained on written confirmation, provided by the Independent School annually or as required, that the child is attending the school.  You will only need to submit the R1 application once under the identified independent school provision.

What happens if my child leaves the Independent School?

Children, whose names are on the Section 14 Register under an identified Independent School provision are removed from the register on written confirmation from a parent and/or the school principal that the child is no longer attending the school. Names are automatically removed from the register when the child reaches the age of 18 years. Where a child moves to a Department of Education recognised school, their name will be added to the school register. If the child moves to another Independent School, an application will need to be submitted under the new Independent School provision. If the parent wishes to home educate an R1 application should be submitted identifying home education as the provision.