Pupils are expected to attend school regularly and punctually and this is monitored by class teachers, Deputy Principal and Principal. If we have concerns, we will discuss them with parents and offer support to improve attendance and punctuality.
Punctuality
To learn effectively pupils must arrive to school on time and with all the books and other equipment they require. Late arrival by pupils not only interferes with their own learning but disrupts the learning of others. Pupils
arriving late (after 9.00am) have to enter the school via the main door and will be signed in as late by the secretary on Aladdin Connect. If a teacher is concerned about a child’s punctuality the matter is raised with parents.
Attendance
Our end of year reports state the number of days a child is marked absent during the school year. Please note that any pupils arriving to school after Roll Call (10am) will be marked as absent for that day. At the end of each term, we recognise the pupils with good attendance.
NEWB and Reporting Absences
The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), now under TÚSLA, was established as part of the Education Welfare Act 2000. Under section 21 of the Education Welfare Act, 2000, the school Principal must maintain a record of the attendance or non-attendance on each school day of each pupil registered at the school. The school attendance record contains the following information on each pupil on the school register:
• Attendance or non-attendance on each school day. A pupil is in attendance if
he/she is present when attendance is checked under the school’s normal
procedures. (i.e. By 10am Roll Call).
• If a pupil has been suspended for any number of days these will be
recorded as absences in the normal way, and categorised appropriately.
• Reasons for failure to attend on each school day will be recorded.
If your child is absent from school, you will receive an Aladdin notification with a link to an absence form to complete. It is important that we receive a reason for absence from you, as “unexplained absences” are a cause for concern. We automatically write to parents periodically if their child’s attendance goes over 10 days. If your child’s attendance reaches 20 days absent, it is considered a serious attendance issue requiring a report to be submitted to the Education Welfare Officer (TUSLA), regardless of the circumstances surrounding the absenteeism.
Very often they have cause to engage with parents over poor attendance and in extreme cases of absenteeism, a parent may be prosecuted under Section 25 of the Education Welfare Act. The Education Welfare Act obliges parents/guardians to inform the school in writing when their child is absent, stating the reason. If your child is absent from school, you will receive an Aladdin notification with a link to an online absence form to complete. It is important that we receive a reason for absence from you, as “unexplained absences” are a cause for concern.
It is not necessary to phone the school office if your child is absent unless they have a contagious illness or are absent for a prolonged period.
Please do not send your child to school when ill. There is no staff cover for indoor supervision during playtimes so if your child is not well enough to go outside, they should not be in school.
Taking a holiday during term time means that children miss important school time. It will be difficult for them to catch up on work later on. As a result, they may fall behind with school work and lose confidence in their abilities. We advise that parents do not take their children out of school for holidays during term time.