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St. Patrick’s B.N.S.
17045Q
Attendance Policy
Introduction
This policy was introduced as a result of whole staff collaboration, together with the Board of Management to safeguard the welfare of the child and to encourage and support good attendance in school. It was reviewed in full in 2017/18 in light of Circular 33/2015, regarding electronic roll books and the school introduction of Aladdin Attendance Management Software.
Rationale
The legislation governing school attendance in Ireland is the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. There is a strong tradition of good attendance in St. Patrick’s B.N.S.. In co-
It is our aim to:
promote a positive attitude among children, towards coming to school
discourage non-
ensure all parents are informed of the procedure in place for notifying teacher for reasons of absences
ensure parents are informed of procedures in place for late arrivals / poor attendance.
St. Patrick’s B.N.S. considers the following acceptable reasons for pupil absence from school:
Illness
Bereavement
Family Circumstances – e.g. illness of family member, family wedding
Holidays during Term Time
Only absences relating to activities organised by the school or in which the school is involved can be authorised by the principal (Section 21(9) of Education (Welfare) Act 2000). Therefore, the school cannot give ‘permission’ for holiday absences during term time. Schools should strongly discourage parents from taking students on holidays during term time and this should be documented in the school’s communication to parents.”
If, despite the school’s recommendation not to, parents choose to withdraw their child for holidays:
Parents should contact the Principal to explain the circumstances in person. This explanation should be placed in writing also, with parents stating they understand the implications.
In these circumstances the school is not obliged to provide extra work or homework to the pupil.
It is the parent’s responsibility, and not the school’s, to assist their child in ‘catching up’ after a period of such absence.
The school is not obliged to repeat any testing or other activity that the pupil may have missed due to holidays.
Such absences will be included in any report made to NEWB, if a pupil reaches 20 days absent during the school year.
Guidelines and Procedures
Individual teachers encourage good attendance and all absences are explained with notes, written by parents in the homework journal.
Good attendance is rewarded by the class teacher, through verbal praise and encouragement. It is also awarded at whole school level through Principal Awards and end of year ‘Full Attendance’ awards.
Record–Keeping
Attendance records are kept online, through the electronic roll-
Teachers are responsible for recording attendance at 10:30 a.m. each morning.
Teachers are responsible for recording the reason for absence into the ‘Aladdin’ system, when the child returns to school and then entering the reason provided.
Teachers are responsible for retaining notes explaining absences and to inform Deputy Principal re: frequent absentees.
The Principal, Deputy Principal and Secretary also have access to all classes’ electronic roll book to monitor absences.
Parents to be informed by note / phone if absences are persistent / unexplained, if their child has been absent for 15 days, initially, and also if they reach 20 days.
Homework journals should be used to correspond with parent / teachers.
Parents are informed immediately (by the Principal or school secretary), if for any reason a child absconds or leaves the school during school hours, unaccompanied. Circumstances surrounding any such departure to be documented by the teacher / Principal.
Encouraging Attendance
Parents are informed of laws within the Welfare Act regarding pupils who are absent for 20 days or more. Namely, that the school must maintain attendance records for all students and inform theTUSLA Child and Family Agency’s educational welfare services if a child is absent (for any reason, explained or unexplained) for more than 20 days in a school year.
Parents are notified if there is a concern regarding their attendance and if the child has missed a large number of days.
Parents receive a note when a pupil has missed 10 days in a school year, and will be informed in writing when they have reached 20 days.
Deputy Principal is informed by teachers / Aladdin system regarding non-
Analysis of absences is completed quarterly, aided by statistics generated by the electronic system. Where a pattern, or significant number, of absences exits, the Deputy Principal contacts the family and/or the Education Welfare Officer.
Class Full Attendance Certificates are presented weekly. Individual Pupil Rewards are presented for full monthly attendance.
Full Attendance Certificates are presented to all children who achieve a full attendance at the end of each school year. Their names are published on the school website and school newsletter.
Awards may be awarded throughout the year for any pupil with improved attendance and/or punctuality.
School Hours
School opening hours are 8.50 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Break times: 10.40am –10.50am and 12:50pm –1.10 pm.
The school calendar (known closures) is communicated to parents via the school magazine Le Chéile, note home and the school website www.stpatricksboys.net
In June, providing as much detail as possible for the following school year.
In September – providing the complete list of known closures for that school year.
At the beginning of each term – providing reminders for closures.
Any updates are provided as soon as possible.
Punctuality
Children are rewarded verbally and frequently for punctuality and requested to explain the reasons if or when they are not punctual. Improved punctuality can be acknowledged, if appropriate.
The school yard is supervised at 8:30am, until 8:50am, when school commences. At 8:50am all entry doors to the school are closed. Any pupil arriving after this time must enter via the main door by the offices.
Late arrivals are monitored by the Principal, and the teacher may also record the arrival time using the Aladdin system.
Parents of children who are frequently late are contacted by the class teacher and advised of the dates their child was late and asking for their cooperation in ensuring their child/ren is/are punctual regularly.
Children at Risk
These children are brought to the attention of the Principal and Deputy Principal, by class teacher. Parents are informed of concerns and consulted regarding the absences.
The Principal / Deputy Principal will consult with parents and / or relevant agencies as appropriate.
Reporting Attendance levels
Individual teachers calculate attendances, assisted by the electronic system.
This information is communicated to (and can be accessed at all times by) the Principal and Deputy Principal and passed on the Board of Management, as appropriate.
Action Plan
Parents are informed about Attendance Policy on enrolment and encouraged to ensure their children are attending school as much as possible and also that the children are punctual.
The Attendance Policy is available for parents on the school website.
Parents are reminded regularly about guidelines and procedures, each term, through the school newsletter.
Principal and Deputy Principal to oversee running of policy and its implementation
Teachers encourage attendance and inform Deputy Principal and parents of persistent absences.
School Organisation – individual class rolls are taken online by teachers at 10:30 am. Principal, Deputy Principal and Secretary have access to these numbers electronically immediately.
Implementation, Review and Communication
This policy was fully reviewed, in light of Circular 33/2015. The Board of Management will monitor the implementation of all aspects of this policy and amend as required.
The policy will be reviewed, as necessary, in the light of experience. There will be a review in May 2019 to assess the effect and support of Aladdin software to the attendance improvement and maintenance in the school. It will be reviewed fully every three years. The school evaluates the success of the policy through:
Analysis of attendance trends, and noting improved attendance / punctuality
Assessment of success through staff feedback
Next Review Date: May 2019
Appendix 1: Strategies to Foster an Appreciation of Learning & Good Attendance
Rewards in accordance with the Code of Behaviour.
The Principal, deputy and Túsla Edcucational Welfare Officer, issues certificates of Full Attendance in Term 1 of year.
Parents are asked to write notifying the teacher of the reason for a child’s absence within three days of the child’s return. The teacher notes the reason for the absence electronically using the Aladdin system.
Identification of students who are at risk of developing school attendance difficulties. These are categorised as follows;
Irregular Absentee: 2/5 days absent in a 20 period without a valid reason.
Serious Irregular Absentee: 6/10 days absent in a 20 period without a valid reason.
Chronic Absentee: 11+ days absent in a 20 period without a valid reason.
Appropriate contact will take place between the school and parents/guardians of children.
For Irregular Absentees the teacher informs the parents by letter of her/his concerns about the child and seeks to meet the parents, to discuss the matter.
For Serious Irregular Absentees the Principal will write to parents inviting them to a meeting to discuss the problem.
For Chronic Absentees the Principal will inform the Education Welfare Officer and notify parents of this by letter.
Attendance, behaviour and academic records of children who transfer to another primary school will be passed to the Principal of the school by post, as soon as we receive written notification of transfer and request for same.
Attendance, behaviour and academic records of children who transfer into St. Patrick’s B.N.S will be sought directly from the previous school.