Our Lady’s Secondary School Attendance Policy

School Ethos

  Our Lady’s is a holistic centre of development and learning where each person is special and treasured as such. We, the staff and students, enjoy working together to realise our full potential in a healthy, safe, stimulating and friendly environment where the atmosphere is one of mutual respect, co-operation and challenge. Christian community is our heritage and goal. The Good News of the Gospel is our story.

Attendance

  Regular attendance at school is essential for all students so that they may reach their potential. Our school aims to foster a culture of regular attendance at school for all pupils. In addition we seek to identify and support those pupils who are experiencing problems with attendance at school. The provisions of the Education Welfare Act 2002 inform and support this policy.

Rationale

The policy is considered necessary because:

        i.            There are a number of legislative requirements arising from the Education Welfare Act 2002.

      ii.            The changing fabric of our society.

    iii.            The role of the National Education Welfare Board.

    iv.            The requirements of the Department of Education and Skills.

      v.            The educational interests of the students.

Aims and Objectives

This school policy sets out to:

        i.            Encourage full attendance where possible

      ii.            Identify pupils at risk.

    iii.            Raise awareness of the importance of school attendance.

    iv.            Foster an appreciation of learning.

      v.            Improve communication with parents.

Application of Policy

This policy applies to all students of Our Lady’s Secondary School regardless of age.

Roles and Responsibilities

A.     Principal:

·           Overall responsibility for students including attendance.

B.     Deputy Principal:

·         Liaise with Principal on all issue re. students including attendance

C.     Year Head:

·         Monitor attendance in Year Group and make students aware of importance of regular attendance.

·         Make contact with parents/guardians in an effort to improve attendance and ascertain reasons for non attendance.

·         When necessary make referrals to Pastoral Care Team

D.     Class Tutor:

·         Ensure that students are aware of the importance of good attendance and the procedures involved in recording partial and full day absences.

E.     Class Teacher:

·         Responsible for student registration morning and afternoon.

·         Bring any concerns re. student attendance to the appropriate year head.

F.     Pastoral Care Team:

·         Take referrals from Year Heads and advise Principal on further courses of action which may be taken. These include intervention by P.C. team; referral to Student Support Workers or referral to N.E.W.O.

·         Monitor students referred on an ongoing basis.

G.     School Attendance Officer:

·         To obtain and check absences on a daily basis.

·         Monitor half day absences.

·         Notify home when 10 and 15 absences have been reached.

·         Notify E.W.O. when 20 absences or 6 days (cumulative) suspension have been reached.

·         Inform Principal; Deputy Principal or Year Head of serious latecoming.

H.     Student Support Worker(s):

·         Take referrals from Principal.

·         Establish contact with parents/ guardians.

·         Try to establish reasons for student absences.

·         Nurture confidence and trust

·         Encourage parents/guardians to adopt a positive attitude to school attendance.

·         Establish contact and trust with students.

·         Work with students to counteract any ‘gaps’ in education which may lead to further absences.

·         Work with P.C. Team to set in place appropriate supports to keep students at school.

·         Maintain contact with parents/guardians.

·         Monitor progress.

·         Keep Principal informed

·         If no improvement suggest to Attendance Officer/ Principal that student should be referred to the N.E.W.O.

I.Parents:

·         As the primary educators parents have a responsibility to ensure that their children attend school unless there is an unavoidable and legitimate reason for their absence.

J.Students:

·         Each student has a personal responsibility to attend school each day.

Procedures:

Ø  Every student is expected to be in attendance from 9.00 a.m. until 3.40 p.m. on every school day.

Ø  Students may not be absent from school except when the absence is unavoidable due to illness, urgent family reason or other legitimate and unavoidable reason.

Ø  It is the responsibility of the Parent(s) / Guardian(s) to furnish the school with a signed and dated note outlining the date and reason for every recorded absence. Such notes will be collected and filed and used in returns to the E.W.B. as outlined in the Educational Welfare Act(2002).School management communicate regularly with parents outlining their concerns re. holidays; medical& dental appointments etc being scheduled during term time. Parents are requested to ensure all discretionary absences occur outside term time. School management furnish them with a calendar of the school year to assist them in this regard.

Ø  Students arriving late for class at 9.00 a.m. and /or 1.05 p.m. must sign the Late Book in the office before proceeding to class. The student’s journal will then be stamped   “LATE” accordingly. Such students are expected to produce a note from their parent/guardian explaining the reason they were late. Late arrival to school on a repeated basis may be viewed as a breach of discipline and appropriate sanctions may apply.

Ø  In the event of a student becoming ill or getting injured during the day they should inform their class teacher  who may send them to the Principal or Deputy Principal to obtain permission to go home. If such permission is granted contact with their parents/guardians should be through the school office. Students should not contact home via a mobile phone or prior to getting permission to leave the school premises. Parents/guardians are expected to make arrangements for the collection of their son/daughter at the school office in the event of a student being ill or injured. When a student returns to school after such an absence a note of explanation should be presented.

Ø  During the school day every student must attend every class according to their Timetable unless prior permission has been received from the Principal or Deputy Principal or Senior School Head or Junior School Head. The unauthorised absence of a student from any class during the school day will be viewed as a breech of discipline and appropriate sanctions may apply.

Ø  On occasion students may be absent from class due to school related activities such as sport and drama. Such absences are sanctioned on the understanding that students ensure all homework is sourced and carried out to a satisfactory standard. Students may be removed from such activities if they are having an adverse effect on their academic progress. Where a teacher is organising an approved activity which necessitates the absence of students from class a list of such students is posted in the staffroom and a copy given to the school secretary.

Ø  A student wishing to leave the school premises for a legitimate reason during the school day must have a signed note from their parent/guardian. This note should include the reason for the absence, the time the student is leaving and a contact number for verification. The student must get this note signed by the Principal or Deputy Principal and then sign out at the school office. No student will be permitted to sign out without producing a signed note. Any student who leaves the school premises without such authorisation will be deemed to have breached the school code of discipline and appropriate sanctions may be applied.

Ø  On rare occasions a student may be absent from school due to suspension for breach of discipline. In such instances parents will be consulted in advance and students are expected to use their time productively by applying themselves to their studies. In such instances, where a student is suspended, they should not be on the school premises or engaged in any school activity as there may be insurance implications.

Communication:

Ø  In the event of a student taking ill during lunchtime while off the school premises the school must be notified immediately by Parent / Guardian.

Ø  Teachers are requested to record on E Portal all students in attendance and absent for each class period on a daily basis.

Ø  Parent(s) / Guardian(s) may be notified via phone call or text messaging if the school has a concern about a particular absence any time on any given date.

Ø  The school’s Attendance Officer will write to the Parent(s) / Guardian(s) if there is a concern about a particular absence or absences as they come to our attention.

Ø  The Parent(s) / Guardian(s) may be requested to make an appointment to discuss the matter with us.

Ø  The School’s Attendance Officer will inform Parent(s) / Guardian(s) by letter when a student exceeds 10 absences or more. This letter will outline the school’s responsibility under the Education Welfare Act 2002 . A copy of all recorded absences will also be enclosed .The Parent(s) / Guardian(s) will be invited to contact the school to discuss the matter if they may wish to do so.

Sanctions for Breaches of School Attendance Policy:

·         The student may be refused admission to a particular class if arriving late.

·         The student may be placed on Lunchtime Detention.

·         Persistent late-comers may be placed on Evening Detention.

·         Un-authorised absence during the school day may result in Evening Detention or Suspension or  the student may be required to attend school on certain date(s) when the other student cohort are not required to be in attendance.

·         Absences will be notified to the E.W.B.as per the Education Welfare Act 2002.

Rewards:

      Certificates will be awarded for full attendances during the current school year.

Policy Review:

ü  This policy will be reviewed every three years. It was ratified by the B.O.M. on _______________

ü  Review Date  __________