Introduction 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
|
|  Yüklə 109 Kb.
|
|
School Attendance Policy Scoil Naisiunta na mBuachaillí 
Introduction This policy document was drawn up:
The Board of Management, in consultation with staff and parents/guardians drew up this Policy on Attendance. Rationale The policy was drafted for the following reasons:
Aims
Relationship to the Characteristic Spirit of the School There is a very strong tradition of good attendance in Scoil Náisiúnta na mBuachaillí. However, the changing fabric of society is altering attitudes to school and we are anxious that parents be aware of the absolute necessity for regular, punctual attendance at school. Quite simply, children cannot learn if they are not in school. The following strategies have been put in place to help foster good attendance. Content 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-books notebooks are sent around to the classes each morning before school begins. The roll call is taken by ten o’ clock. The notebook is sent back to the office. The roll-books are stored in teacher’s lockable press. A note from parents/guardians is required to explain each absence. Such notes will be retained by the class teacher and put in the pupils file in the office Parents/guardians must also provide a reason for withdrawal if a child is collected early during the school day. At the end of each reporting period, Ms. Marie Cremin transfers the appropriate recorded data to the NEWB. The school must inform the Education Welfare Officer, 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 Newport Boys National School endeavours 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. Parents of incoming second class are invited to an induction meeting in May, through which the school’s policies and procedures in relation to attendance are explained. Parents are given a copy of the leaflet “Don’t let your child miss out” and the Principal reads sections from it. There is a focus on the value of regular attendance and on the importance of developing good attendance habits from second class onwards. The proposed calendar for the coming school year is published annually in June and is confirmed in September. The calendar is drawn up in consultation with Newport Convent Primary School as many of our pupils have siblings in that school. Where possible it is the policy of both schools to have the same calendar. 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. If a child has no lunch and if parents cannot provide one for him/her, the school will provide a sandwich and a drink. Awards and certificates are presented to pupils who have good attendance during the school year. Trophies are given to those who have full attendance, medals to those who have been absent for 3 days or less and certificates to those who have been absent for 5 days or less. The principal presents these to the children at assembly, at the end of the school year. Communication: The school maintains communication with Newport Convent Primary School and second-level schools in order to make the transition for pupils as easy as possible. 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’. Section 21 of the act obliges schools to inform the Education Welfare Officer (EWO) 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 EWO (following all reasonable efforts by the Education Board to consult with the child’s parents 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. When a child returns to school following an absence, a written note must be sent to inform the school as to the reason for the child’s absence. Absent notes are stored in the teachers file. A telephone call or verbal message is not adequate. When a child has missed 10 days, the principal shall contact the parents in question inviting them to call to the school to discuss the matter. When a child reaches 15 days absent, the principal will inform the parents that the child has been missing from school and the matter will be further discussed. Reasons for absence are recorded and reported to the NEWB five times during the school year through an online system. An annual report is submitted during the first week following the schools’ summer closure detailing the overall level of attendance at the school during that school year. Transfer to Another School When the Principal receives notification that a child has been registered elsewhere she will notify the Principal of the pupil’s new school, of any problems in relation to attendance and such matters relating to the child’s educational progress as he or she considers appropriate. Success Criteria The following will provide some practical indicators of the success of this policy: • An increase in annual attendance rates • Board of Management, Staff and parent/guardian awareness of their legal obligations under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 Roles and Responsibilities Principal
Class teacher
Parents
E.W.O
B.O.M
Implementation This policy will be implemented immediately following ratification by the Board of Management and communication to the Parents’ Association. Ratification and Review This policy was reviewed by the Board of Management on 10th September 2012. It was ratified by the Board of Management on Date: 10/09/2012 Signed: _____________ Fr. John O’ Keeffe Chairperson, BoM The policy was communicated to the Parent Association on 19/09/12 Signed: _________ Kathleen Harrington Chairperson, PA Review Date: November 2014 |