Attendance

C.B.S. PRIMARY
Attendance POLICY
CBS PRIMARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY – 17th November 2020.

There is a very strong tradition of good attendance in C.B.S. Primary, Mitchelstown. In order to continue this tradition, we are anxious that parents be aware of the absolute necessity for regular, punctual attendance at school.
The following strategies have been put in place to help foster an appreciation of learning and good attendance:

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT.
Note – In light of Covid -19 directives the Attendance Committee decided that initiatives to promote full attendance might inadvertently encourage attendance in instances where a child with Covid – like symptoms might be safer not attending school. Practices discontinued for this reason are highlighted in blue.

Alternative practices to be implemented are highlighted in red.

Education Welfare Act

The Education Welfare Act became law in July 2002 and under that law, parents have an obligation to send their children to a recognised school. The Board of Management of a school is obliged to have an attendance policy which promotes attendance awareness and good practice and provides for monitoring and reporting of same. Since 2005 this policy has been reviewed annually with input from our H.S.C.L. Officer and S.C.P. Project Worker.

The Committee now consists of Bernard O’Connell Principal, Nigel Griffin (D.P.), Máiréad Sheehan (S.C.P.) Project Worker & Gillian Kearney (H.S.C.L.).

RATIONALE.

It was decided to develop this policy because –

The law requires that every child attends school regularly or otherwise receives an appropriate minimum education.
It is the responsibility of every parent/legal guardian to make sure that their son attends school regularly.
It leads to better results at school.
;It leads to better career opportunities when pupils leave school.
It leads to a better understanding of the material being taught in class.
It results in increased self-confidence and self-esteem.

RELATIONSHIP TO OUR “SCHOOL VISION”

Our vision is that “Through positive learning experiences, each child will be stimulated to achieve his full potential, face life confidently and respectfully, mindful of his responsibility to the wider community.”
Therefore, in order for our children to reach their full potential it is essential that they attend school regularly. CBS Primary also facilitates provision of School meals under the DEIS Scheme.

AIMS.
To promote good attendance through the following:-

Rewarding students with good or improved attendance records.

Identifying pupils with poor attendance in school.
Developing links between the school and the families of pupils with poor attendance, through cooperation with our S.C.P. Project Worker, Mairéad Sheehan and Gillian Kearney (H.S.C.L.) Co Ordinator.
Identifying and removing obstacles to good attendance.
Implementation of a staged approach to tackling absenteeism among our targeted pupils in co-operation with our S.C.P. Project Worker, Mairéad Sheehan and Gillian Kearney (H.S.C.L.) Officer.
Identifying pupils with patterns of late arrivals and early leaving.

CONTENT

Introduction
Children will not reach their full academic potential if they do not attend school regularly. The following strategies have been put in place to help foster an appreciation of learning and good attendance.

ROLLA
Roll Call - The Roll Call will be taken each day in all Mainstream Classes between 9.55am and 10am. Pupils presenting to school after this time will be marked absent unless the school has been informed by Parent/Guardian, prior to this time, giving a reason for the pupil’s late arrival.

REWARDS

A).For the General Student Body:-
Rewards will be presented for good and improved attendance i.e.: -

1 day or less up to February Mid-term

1 day or less from February Mid-term to summer holidays, discounting absences prior to February.
Reward stickers will be attached to the pupil’s mid-term break and summer holiday reports by class teachers.
Record of boys not presenting with absent notes will be recorded on Aladdin (Tracking System).
Teachers will issue early leaving and late arrival slips.

For Mid-term Reports the attendance will be graded as follows:

0-1 day absent - Excellent + Sticker (Excellent)
2-3 days absent – Good(Excellent)
4-6 days absent – Fair (V Good)
7+ days absent - Needs attention (No comment necessary)

B).For our Tracker Pupils:-

Aladdin (computerised attendance system) checked by S.C.P. Project worker, Ms Sheehan and Ms Kearney HSCL on a weekly basis. Teachers will check boys not presenting with absent notes.
Monthly prize for boys with full attendance each month up to February and fortnightly thereafter.
Prior to February break and at the end of the academic year boys with improved attendance are treated to a party during school time.
Teachers will inform a member of the Committee if they have concerns regarding the attendance of a pupil not already on the tracking list.

Identification of Students with poor attendance
Tracker pupils will be chosen on the basis of their previous year’s attendance. Information on the attendance of incoming 1st class pupils will be sought from the child's previous primary school(s), however, 1st class pupils will not be included in the tracking project except in instances where the Attendance Committee deem it necessary. The option of adding a first class pupil will be examined each Term.
Parent(s)/ Legal Guardian(s) will be informed by letter when a child is added to the Attendance Tracking Programme.
As there are no palpable initiatives currently in situ, there is no necessity to contact Parents/Guardians regarding Tracking Lists.

The Tracker list will be reviewed every December and Easter, with a view to removing or adding children to the tracking programme.
Children removed from the list will still be monitored.
In certain instances where there are concerns about a pupil, he may be chosen as a Tracker Pupil regardless of his previous year's attendance figures. Parent(s)/Legal guardian(s) will be informed by letter in these instances.
Identification of patterns of late arrivals / early collections on the Aladdin System will also be a factor in identifying Traveller children.

Implications of absenteeism

A). For the General Student Body:
Regardless of the child’s circumstances, there is a standard procedure regarding communication of a child’s attendance between the home and the school.
Appropriate contact will take place between the school and parents/guardians of these children.

For pupils absent without a valid note from Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s), the teacher will inform the Parent(s)/ Legal Guardian(s) by homework journal/letter and request a valid note. (CF letter request).
For pupils absent for 15 days or more Mairéad Sheehan will write to Parent(s)/ Legal Guardian(s) informing them of the number of days missed. In this letter Parent(s)/ Legal Guardian(s) will also be offered the opportunity to visit school to discuss the implications regarding TUSLA (Child and Family Agency) with Gillian Kearney and avail of supports which can be offered to them. Mairead Sheehan SCP will notify Deputy Principal regarding this. (CF letter non trackers 15+)

Ms Kearney will, instead, be in telephone contact with parents/guardians prior to the posting of the 20 day letter.

For pupils absent for 20 days or more the teacher will inform Mairéad Sheehan /Deputy Principal, who will inform TUSLA (Child and Family Agency) in due course and notify Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) of this by letter. (CF letter non tracker 20+)
A referral form for pupils absent for 25 days will be sent, if deemed necessary, to TUSLA and a letter will be sent informing parents/legal guardians of this. In certain cases a referral may be made prior to the pupil reaching 25 days absent, if the Attendance Committee deem it necessary.
The Education welfare officer may be contacted at any stage of the process, where the committee feel his services are warranted.

Teachers will also notify Mairéad Sheehan, Gillian Kearney or Deputy Principal if they have concerns regarding a particular child’s attendance, late arrival / early leaving patterns.
Mairéad will check Aladdin fortnightly for boys who are not presenting with absent notes. The teacher will inform Mairead Sheehan of this. Where there are concerns about a pupil’s attendance at any time they may be added to the tracker list.
Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) will be informed about this by letter.
Where concerns remain, a referral form may be submitted to TUSLA (Child and Family Agency). This referral may be made at any point of the staged approach.

For Tracker Pupils – The Staged Approach

10 days absent – Gillian Kearney (phone call) to offer support and explain “Staged Approach”.
15 days absent – S.C.P. Project Worker Mairead Sheehan to send a letter informing Parent(s)/ Legal Guardian(s) of the actual number of days absent. Gillian Kearney will follow up with a phone call to offer support. (CF tracker 15+)

Ms Kearney will be in telephone contact with parents/guardians prior to the posting of the 20 day letter.

20 days absent – S.C.P. Project Worker Mairead Sheehan to send a letter to Parent(s)/ Legal Guardian(s) informing them of the number of days absent and that we are obliged to contact TUSLA (Child and Family Agency). (CF tracker 20+)
25 days absent – Referral form, signed by Principal, will be submitted to TUSLA (Child and Family Agency) by the Attendance Committee. A letter will be sent to Parent(s)/ Legal Guardian(s) informing them of this. (CF tracker 25+) Gillian Kearney (HSCL) will follow up with a phone call to arrange a meeting with the Parents/Legal Guardians.
The Education welfare officer may be contacted at any stage of the process, where the committee feel his services are warranted.

Note: Where there are concerns about tracker pupils, TUSLA may be contacted at any point of the Staged Approach.

Record/Communication
Each child's attendance record will be recorded on the midterm and end of year report cards.
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.
Attendance, behaviour and academic records of children who transfer into CBS Primary Mitchelstown will be sought directly from the previous school. Attendance, behaviour and Academic records of pupils transferring to Secondary School will be sent to the school once enrolment has been confirmed.

Procedures
Notes are required from Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) after any absence full/half day. Notes should be on a separate letter or on space provided on homework journal.
Parents collecting children during the school day for any period must sign the “Sign In”/”Sign Out” book in Reception.
Parent(s) dropping their children to school late will also sign this book.
A member of staff will be contacted to accompany the child on their designated route to class.
Early leaving and late arrival slips will also be applicable in these cases. (c.f. Early Leaving / Late Arrival Slips)
This will also be recorded on Aladdin.

Success Criteria

Success of policy implementation will be assessed through staff / parent / pupil feedback.

Improvements in attendance of children with poor history of attendance.
Figures compiled by Mairéad Sheehan (SCP) on the Tracker Pupils’ termly attendance.

Roles and Responsibilities
Policy will be developed and monitored by the School Attendance Committee, B. O’Connell, M. Sheehan, G. Kearney and Nigel Griffin, ratified by Board of Management and implemented by the whole staff.

Review
This Policy will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Notification of Review to Staff & B.O.M.

Further reviews

Attendance Committee.

Policy to be communicated through Newsletter and copy made available in office.

Policy reviewed and ratified by B.O.M. on    ______________________________

Proposed:                   ______________________________

Seconded                   ______________________________

Signed:                   ______________________________
                       Chairperson B.O.M.

Date –                        ______________________________

Signed:                   ______________________________
                           Principal

Date of next Review:              September 2021