POLICY ON ATTENDANCE
Introduction &
Rationale
This policy document was drawn up:
·
To ensure and maintain a high
level of attendance at school by all pupils.
The Board of Management, in consultation with staff and parents/guardians
drew up this Policy on Attendance.
The policy was drafted for the following reasons:
·
The Board of Management wishes
to comply with legislation, such as:
Ø The Education Act, 1998
Ø The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000
Ø The Education Welfare Bill (Amendment) 2102
·
The Board of Management wishes
to promote and encourage regular attendance as an essential factor in our
pupils’ learning.
Relationship to the
Characteristic Spirit of the School
Scoil Chaitríona Junior endeavours to enable every pupil to actively
participate in all school activities. Regular attendance helps to create a
stable learning environment for all pupils, and the school hopes to promote
co-operation among pupils, parents/guardians and staff in maintaining a high
level of regular attendance through the school year.
Aims
§ To raise awareness of the importance of regular
school attendance
·
To identify pupils at risk of
leaving school early
·
To promote and to foster
positive attitudes to learning
·
To ensure compliance with the
requirements of the relevant legislation.
Content
Attendance Care Team
Principal: Patricia Coleman
Overall Attendance Co-ordinator: Teresa Carleton
HSCL: Dave Gleeson
NEWO Linda Quinn
School Completion Person: Aoife Rooney
Pupil Registration: Henrietta Broderick
Recording and Reporting of
Attendance and Non-Attendance
The school attendance of individual pupils is recorded in the
Leabhar Rolla (Roll Book) of each class on a daily basis. Class attendance data
is recorded daily in the Leabhar Tinrimh (Attendance Book). The annual attendance of each individual
pupil is recorded in the Clár Leabhar (Register), together with information
provided in enrolment forms (Pupil’s Name, Date of Birth, Address, Religion,
Parents’ Names and Parents’ Occupations).
If a pupil does not attend on a day when the school is open for
instruction, his/her non-attendance will be recorded by the class teacher. The
roll call is taken at no later than 9.50am each morning. Any pupil not present will be marked absent
for the day. The roll book may not be
altered once it has been filled in. Class teachers record absences on a Special
Record Sheet to be kept in the roll book. (Appendix 1)
A Standard School Absence Note (circulated in the first week of
September, Appendix 2) from parents/guardians is required to explain each
absence. Such notes will be retained by the class teacher. Parents/guardians
must also provide a note if a child departs early during the school day. Parent
/ guardian must sign a “leaving school early” copy available in each classroom
before taking the child out early from school. At break times the parent goes
to the staff room to tell the child’s teacher he/she is taking the child early.
Late arrivals are noted by the class teacher and concerns forwarded to the
overall attendance Co-ordinator (Teresa Carleton) and or HSCL (Dave Gleeson).
Parents/guardians are informed in writing on the end of year report
of the total number of absences during the school year. Pupils whose
non-attendance is a concern are invited to meet with the Attendance
Co-ordinator during Parent/Teacher meetings and are informed of the school’s
concerns.
The school informs the Education Welfare Officer at the NEWB
Attendance Meetings, where a child has missed 20 or more days in a school year,
where attendance is irregular, where a pupil is removed from the school
register and where a child is suspended or expelled for 6 days or more.
Whole School Strategies to
Promote Attendance
Scoil Chaitríona Junior, endeavour to create a safe, welcoming
environment for our pupils and their parents/guardians. Parents/guardians are
consulted in drafting and reviewing policies with the aim of promoting a high-level
of co-operation among the school community. The teaching staff collaborates in
the planning and implementation of the primary school curriculum, so as to
provide a stimulating learning environment for all pupils.
New entrants and their parents/guardians are invited to an induction
meeting in the 2nd school term, through which the school’s policies
and procedures in relation to attendance are explained. There is a focus on the
value of regular attendance and on the importance of developing good attendance
habits from Junior Infants onwards. Support services and assessment available
through the school are emphasised for families who may need encouragement
towards making a difference for their child/ren.
A copy of “Don’t let your child Miss out” is provided to parents at
the Induction Meeting.
Scoil Chaitrona Junior
schools homework policy, drawn up in consultation with parents/guardians,
clearly outlines the school’s expectations in terms of the quantity of homework
assigned and in the quality of homework presented. There is a consistent
approach to homework throughout the school.
The calendar for the coming school year is published annually in June
along with a letter advising parents to plan their holidays around school
closures. A reminder is published in September. It is hoped that this approach
will enable parents/guardians to plan family events around school closures,
thus minimising the chances of non-attendance related to family holidays during
the school term.
Pupils are expected to wear the correct school uniform.
Parents/guardians are informed if a child has no lunch, and if one
cannot be provided for him/her, the school will provide a cereal and drink.
Teachers and Principal encourage good attendance through meeting
with parents, giving positive feedback on improvements over a short period of
time and overall attendance. Set targets for School Completion are reviewed on
an annual basis.
The question of equality of access is addressed through the school’s
policy on Equal Opportunity and Gender Equity.
Communication
The school has developed a good relationship with the local Education
Welfare Board (EWB) personnel and there is ongoing communication in relation to
children who are at risk. In some cases it may be necessary to seek advice from
outside agencies such as NEPS, C.A.M.H.S., Social Worker, Family Support or
other.
The school works with School Completion, Junior Achievement, the local
area partnership, the local sports partnership and other bodies in developing
programmes to promote school attendance. These programmes aim to minimise the
risks of irregular or non-attendance and to maximise the opportunities provided
to all pupils.
The school maintains communication with local pre-schools and Scoil
Chaitríona Senior in order to make the transition for pupils as easy as
possible. A paired reading programme takes place in the third term between 5th
Class and 2nd class to ease the transition between the Junior and
Senior schools.
Strategies in the Event of
Non-Attendance
Section 17 of the Education (Welfare) Act (2000), states that ‘the
parent of a child shall cause the child concerned to attend a recognised school
on each school day’.
Scoil Chaitríona issues notice to parents / guardians in the form of
a letter regarding unexplained absences of 15 to 20 days. Parents / guardians
are invited to meet with the Attendance Co-ordinator and or HSCL to explain
such absences.
Section 21 of the act obliges schools to inform the Education
Welfare Officer if a child is absent on more than 20 days in any school year,
or if a child does not attend school on a regular basis.
In such cases the Education Welfare Officer (following all reasonable
efforts by the Education Board to consult with the child’s parents, HSCL and
the Principal of the school) may serve a ‘School Attendance Notice’ on any
parent who he/she concludes is failing or neglecting to cause the child to
attend the school. A successful case
taken against the parent may result in a fine and/or imprisonment.
Reasons for absence and other relevant information of children who
are absent 20 days or more are recorded by the Attendance Co-ordinator at
regular intervals and reported to the NEWB and / or at the Attendance Care
Meeting held six times during the school.
Unexplained absences or suspicion of truancy from school are queried
by the class teacher on meeting the parent in the morning, by phone call from
the class teacher, Attendance Co-ordinator or secretary or at parent teacher
meetings.
Where a child is more than 3 days unexplained absences from school
the teacher contacts the parent to identify the reason for the absence and
where appropriate informs the attendance Co-ordinator and /or HSCL immediately.
Transfer to Another School
Under Section 20 of the Education (Welfare) Act (2000), the Principal
of a child’s current school must notify the Principal of the child’s previous
school that the child is now registered in their school.
When a Principal receives notification that a child has been
registered elsewhere he/she must notify the Principal of the pupil’s new school,
of any problems in relation to attendance at the pupil’s former school and of
such matters relating to the child’s educational progress as he or she
considers appropriate. This applies to
pupils who transfer between primary schools and to pupils who transfer from
Scoil Chaitríona Junior to Scoil Chaitríona Senior. In the case where a child
leaves school and the destination is unknown the child’s name is kept on the
school roll for 21 consecutive days and on the school register until the pupil
normally leaves school at the end of Second Class.
Success Criteria
·
An
increase in annual attendance rates
·
Board of
Management, Staff and parent/guardian awareness of their legal obligations
under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 and the amended 2012 Bill
Roles and Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the Principal and staff to implement
this policy under the guidance of the school’s Board of Management.
Implementation
This policy will be implemented immediately following ratification
by the Board of Management.
Ratification and Review
This policy was approved by the Board of Management in Term 1, 2016/2017
school year.
It was ratified by the Board of Management on Date: 13th, December,
2016
Signed: _____________________________ Chairperson, BoM
This policy was communicated to the Parent Association on December
14th 2016
Signed: _____________________________ Chairperson, PA
The policy is available to view on the school’s website.
Review Date: School Year 2019 -2020
Appendix
1
Pupil
Non Attendance Records – to be recorded daily
Class……………………………… Teacher ……………………………………...
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Date
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Pupil’s Name
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Reason for absence eg Illness; Urgent
Family Reasons; Holidays; Expelled; Suspended; Religious Observance etc;
transfer to another school
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Scoil Chaitríona Junior, Renmore
Child’s Name ______________________________ Teacher
________________________
 |
Date of
Absence from ____ / ____ / ____ to
____ / ____ / ____ No. of
days
REASON FOR ABSENCE
(Please tick one
of the following)
(A) Illness
 |
(B) Urgent family Reasons
|
(C) Other (Please specify eg Holidays,
religious Observance etc)
__________________________________________________
(D) Transfer to another school (please specify
school)
__________________________________________________
SIGNATURE (Parent / Guardian) ___________________________________ Date
_________________
Under legislation the school is compelled to report absences of 20 days
or more, regardless of reasons of absence. Please fill in this form and return
it to the class teacher each time your child is absent from school.
-------------------------------------------------------- Cut here please
----------------------------------------------------------
|
Scoil Chaitríona Junior, Renmore
|
Child’s Name ______________________________ Teacher
________________________
|
Date of Absence from ____ / ____ / ____ to
____ / ____ / ____ No. of
days
REASON FOR ABSENCE
(Please tick one
of the following)
(E) Illness
|
(F) Urgent family Reasons
|
(G) Other (Please specify eg Holidays,
religious Observance etc)
__________________________________________________
(H) Transfer to another school (please specify
school)
__________________________________________________
SIGNATURE (Parent / Guardian) ___________________________________ Date
_________________
Under legislation the school is compelled to report absences of 20 days
or more, regardless of reasons of absence. Please fill in this form and return
it to the class teacher each time your child is absent from school.
