Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy

Cara Junior School Attendance Policy

Cara Junior School recognises the importance of school attendance. The school endeavours to provide a supportive, positive and welcoming environment where the needs of each individual pupil are met.

This policy supports pupils and their right to education. The legislation governing school attendance in Ireland is the Education (Welfare) Act 2000.

Attendance Expectations

Parents and guardians should notify the school of the reason for a child’s absence, as required under the Education Act.

Schools are obliged to keep a register of attendance and maintain attendance records for all pupils. The school must inform the relevant authorities if a child is absent for 20 days or more in the school year.

Pupils under the age of 6 who are absent cannot be reported to TUSLA. Only absences from their 6th birthday are included in reporting.

Holidays During Term Time

Parents are discouraged from taking holidays during school term time. Only absences relating to activities organised by the school, or in which the school is involved, can be authorised by the Principal.

The school cannot give permission for holiday absences during term time.

How Attendance Is Monitored

Attendance is monitored daily and must be taken before 10.00 a.m. using the Aladdin electronic e-book system. Daily, end-of-term and yearly attendance is recorded.

• Attendance is recorded daily through Aladdin.
• December and June attendance records are maintained.
• The roll book can be amended to reflect arrivals or mistakes if necessary.
• The Deputy Principal has responsibility for attendance records.

Punctuality

• School begins at 9.10 a.m.
• All pupils and staff are expected to be on time.
• The Principal may contact parents or guardians where pupils are consistently late.
• The Principal is obliged under the Education Welfare Act to report children who are consistently late to TUSLA Child and Family Agency.

Absence Procedures

• All new absences must be explained by email or by a note from parents or guardians.
• All communication regarding absences will be kept on file in school for one year by the class teacher.
• If no correspondence is received, the pupil’s absence will be recorded as unexplained.

School Refusal

If a pupil refuses to attend school, the school may consult with the Principal, parents or guardians, and Child Disability Network Team therapist supports.

• A problem-solving framework or attendance plan may be drawn up.
• TUSLA or the Education Welfare Officer may be informed if necessary.
• Other supports such as NCSE, SESS or NEPS may be consulted where applicable.

Strategies in the Event of Non-Attendance

Any concerns about a pupil’s attendance are brought to the attention of parents or guardians. Individual teachers are responsible for this after consultation with the Principal, with help from the Deputy Principal where needed.

1. The Principal, having been alerted by the class teacher, will inform parents by letter when the pupil reaches 15 days of absence during an academic year.
2. Section 21 of the Education (Welfare) Act obliges the school to inform the Education Welfare Officer if a child is absent for more than 20 days in any school year, or has not attended school regularly.
3. A meeting with parents or guardians will be requested after 25 days of absence during an academic year.
4. In some cases, the Education Welfare Officer may serve a school attendance notice where a parent is deemed to be failing or neglecting to cause the child to attend school.

School Transfer

Under Section 20 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, the Principal of a child’s current school must notify the Principal of the pupil’s previous school that the child is now registered in another school through the Primary Online Database.

School Roles in Relation to Attendance

Partnership Arrangements

Parents, staff members and pupils are encouraged to uphold the school’s policy on attendance. On occasion, it may be necessary to report a pupil’s absence to TUSLA as part of a care review or CDNT meeting.

Monitoring and Review

This statement is monitored periodically by the Deputy Principal. It forms part of induction protocols for permanent, temporary and substitute teachers. Compliance is monitored and teachers are updated at staff meetings where required.

The policy will be reviewed on a whole-school basis as required by law or when the need arises.