School Attendance

Shandrum National School

Newtownshandrum, Charleville, Co Cork

Roll Number - 11496T


Statement of Strategy for School Attendance


Name of school Shandrum National School

Address Newtownshandrum, Charleville, Co Cork

Roll Number 11496T


The school’s vision and values in relation to attendance

In Shandrum National School we recognise the importance of school attendance, the clear and direct relationship between regular school attendance and pupil progress.

We endeavour to develop a supportive, positive and welcoming school environment where the needs of every individual child are met.

Our holistic approach to the development of our students as individuals underpins all our actions.


Aims & Objectives

  • To promote a positive learning environment.

  • To promote a school culture where every child feels valued, trusted & respected.

  • To raise awareness of the importance of school attendance.

  • To encourage full attendance where possible.

  • To encourage punctuality.

  • To reward good attendance & improvement in attendance.

  • To ensure that pupil attendance is recorded daily.

  • To ensure that pupils are registered accurately & efficiently.

  • To ensure awareness of & compliance with the requirements of the relevant legislation.

  • To identify pupils at risk.

The school’s high expectations around attendance

Every child in Shandrum NS, to whom the School Attendance Act applies, is obliged by law to attend school every day on which the school is in operation unless there is a reasonable excuse for not attending.

The school expects that in so far as is possible that all pupils fully attend school.

Taking into consideration Section 21(9) of the Education Welfare Act 2000, “a pupil’s absence can only be authorised by the Principal when the child is involved in activities organised by the school or in which the school is involved”. The school principal cannot authorise a child’s absence for holidays during school time, however it is essential that parents inform the school of such arrangements.

Children who are unwell are not expected to attend school.

Children who maintain a perfect school attendance record during the year receive a Certificate at the end of the school year.


How attendance will be monitored

Punctuality

The school is open from 8.50am and children are required to be in their classrooms not later than 9.00am.

All pupils and staff are expected to be on time.

Pupil punctuality is monitored by the class teacher & the principal.

Late Arrivals – Parents/ Guardians are required to fill in the details in the pupil record book at reception.

The school will contact parents in the event of pupils being constantly late.

The principal is obliged under the Education Welfare Act to report children who are persistently late to the Education Welfare Board.


Attendance/ Absence Records

Attendance is monitored daily by the class teachers & school secretary.

The class roll is checked at 10.00am each day.

Attendances & absences are input into the attendance database daily. Records are maintained on a daily, monthly, quarterly & yearly basis for the school year.

Reasons for pupils’ absences must be communicated in writing (written note or absence note in the back of their homework diary) by the parents/guardians of the child when they return to school. These notes should be given to the class teacher & will form a record which may be inspected by the Education Welfare Officer on a visit to the school.

Parents will be contacted when reasons for absences are unknown or have not been communicated.

Early Departures – Parents/Guardians are required to fill in the details in the pupil record book at reception.

When a child is absent for 15 days or more the school notifies the parents in writing.


Student Absence Reports – Education Welfare Board

  • When a child is absent for 20 days or more their absences will be reported to the NEWB.

  • The cumulative total of absences is submitted to the NEWB at the end of the year through the Annual Report Form.

  • The school will use its discretion in determining whether the student’s attendance warrants referral.

Student attendance statistics are reported as appropriate to:-

  • The Board of Management

  • The Education Welfare Board

  • TUSLA


Summary of the main elements of the school’s approach to attendance:

  • Target setting and targets

  • The whole-school approach

  • Promoting good attendance

  • Responding to poor attendance


The Board of Management is committed to providing a positive school atmosphere which is conducive to promoting good school attendance.

The school will promote good attendance by:

  • Having high expectations of student’s attendance.

  • Creating a safe and welcoming environment.

  • Ensuring children are happy in school.

  • Developing mutual trust and respect with students.

  • Listening to student’s concerns.

  • Displaying kindness, compassion & understanding.

  • Addressing personal and practical issues..

  • Collaborating in the planning & implementation of the primary school curriculum so as to provide a stimulating learning environment for all pupils.

  • Being vigilant so that risks to good attendance such as disadvantage, bullying etc.. are identified early for individual children.

  • Promoting development of self-esteem and self-worth in children.

  • Intervening early with personalised support and engagement with families & their children.

  • Escalating the response by the school in proportion to the complexity of the child’s needs.

  • Awarding annual prizes for students with full attendance.

  • Inviting parents of new entrants to engage in an induction process through which the school’s policies & procedures in relation to attendance are explained.

  • Reminding parent’s of the importance of regular school attendance from Junior Infants onwards & the Board of Management’s obligation to report absences.

  • Publishing the calendar for the coming school year annually in June and posting it on the school website (it is hoped that this approach will enable parents to plan family events around school closures, thus minimising the chances of non-attendance related to family holidays during the school term).

  • Supporting pupils with a poor attendance record insofar as is practicable, in an effort to improve their attendance.

  • Monitoring the attendance rates of pupils - the class teacher in the first instance, and if necessary the class teacher will notify the Principal of any concerns regarding the attendance of any child.

  • Parents are notified 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 Principal during parent/teacher meetings or at other times and are informed of the school’s concerns.

  • When a pupil has accumulated 15 days or more in any one school year a letter is sent to the pupil’s parents.

  • Monitoring progress or lack of and noting when the threshold is met for a referral to TUSLA’s Educational Welfare Services.

  • Utilising the Education Welfare Officer’s assistance if necessary.

  • Parents are made aware of the requirements of TUSLA Child & Family agency particularly the by-law relating to absences of more than 20 days per school year.

  • When a child transfers into Shandrum National School, confirmation of transfer must be communicated to the child’s previous school, appropriate records sought & the Primary Online Database updated accordingly.

  • When Shandrum NS receives notification that a child has been registered elsewhere the principal must notify the principal of the pupil’s new school of any problems in relation to attendance at the pupil’s former school & of such matters relating to the child’s educational progress as they consider appropriate.


This applies to pupils who transfer between primary schools and to pupils who transfer from primary to second-level education.

  • The principal has responsibility for all communications regarding attendance.


The Principal/ Board of Management must inform the Education Welfare Office if:

  • A child is expelled

  • A child is suspended for 6 days or more

  • A child has missed more than 20 days


Parents can promote good school attendance by:

  • Ensuring regular & punctual school attendance.

  • Informing the school in writing of the reason for absence from school.

  • Working with the school & the Education Welfare Service to resolve any attendance problems.

  • Making sure your child understands that you as parents support good school attendance.

  • Discussing planned absences with the school.

  • Refraining if possible from taking holidays during school time.

  • Showing interest in your child’s school day & their homework.

  • Encouraging them to participate in school activities.

  • Praising & encouraging your child’s achievements.

  • Instilling in your children positive self-esteem & a positive sense of self-worth.

  • Ensuring in so far as is possible, that children’s appointments (with dentists etc..) are arranged for times outside of school hours.

  • Contacting the school immediately, if they have concerns about absence or other related school matters.

  • Notifying the school in writing or by phone if their child particularly children in Junior classes, are to be collected by someone not known to the teacher.


Pupils can promote good school attendance by:

  • Having the clear responsibility to attend school regularly & punctually.

  • Informing staff if there is a problem that may lead to their absence.

  • Being responsible for promptly passing on absence notes from parents to their class teacher.

  • Being responsible for passing school correspondence to their parents, on the specified day.



School roles in relation to attendance

The school principal will:

  • Ensure that the school register of pupils (Primary On-Line Database) is maintained in accordance with regulations.

  • Inform the Education Welfare Officer:

  • If a pupil is not attending school regularly.

  • When a pupil has been absent for 20 or more days during the course of a school year.

  • If a pupil has been suspended for a period or 6 or more days.

  • When a pupil’s name is removed from the school register.

  • Inform parents of a decision to contact the Education Welfare officer of concerns regarding a pupil.

  • Insofar as is practicable, promote the importance of good school attendance among pupils, parents & staff.


The Class Teacher will:

  • Maintain their class roll in accordance with procedure.

  • Keep a record of explained & unexplained absences.

  • Encourage pupils to attend regularly and punctually.

  • Inform the principal of concerns they may have regarding the attendance of any pupil.


Partnership arrangements (parents, students, other schools, youth and community groups)

Parents, staff members and the children themselves are encouraged to uphold the school’s policy on attendance.


How the Statement of Strategy will be monitored

This statement will be monitored by the Board of Management, Principal and staff throughout the school year.


Review process and date for review

This policy will be reviewed on a whole school basis in:


Date the Statement of Strategy was approved by the Board of Management

19th October 2017

Date the Statement of Strategy submitted to Tusla

23rd October 2017


Signed: Fr. Gerard Coleman

Chairperson Board of Management.

Date: 19th October 2017