Holy Family National School,

Newport, Co. Mayo

Phone 098-41442

E-Mail newportmayo.ias@eircom.net

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Enrolment Form

School Handbook

ATTENDANCE

The Education Welfare Act (2000) promotes school attendance. Section 17 of that legislation states that it is a statutory obligation on parents to ensure that their child attends a recognised school once registered in the school. Furthermore, where a child is absent from the school, the parent is required under the Act to notify, in writing, the Principal or Class Teacher of the reason for the child’s absence. Parents are asked to use the Notes for Absences section in the School Diary for this purpose. The Act states that the relevant authorities will be informed of pupils who have been absent for twenty days or more for any reason (this includes illness, holidays outside school holidays, etc.). Children deemed at risk will be registered with the National Educational Welfare Board and their attendance regularly recorded.
Parents are discouraged from taking holidays during school term. It is agreed that school work will not be sent home with children, to be done while they are on holidays. Teachers will not do anything to facilitate parents taking children on holidays during school term.
Teachers are asked to send names of children they deem at risk re. attendance to the Principal with the Cuntas Míosúil. This is to ensure that the Principal is aware of poor attendees. Mr. Mac Eoin will then consult with Mrs. Smith, Home-School Liaison Officer, to decide on action to be taken.
Role of Parents:
The parent of a child shall cause the child concerned to attend a recognised school on each school day. Where a child is absent from the school where he/she is registered, the parent of the child is required under the Act to notify the school of the reason for absence. Letters from parents concerning illness and doctor’s certificates will be kept on file in the school, by Mrs. Smith, for one year. If a child has missed more than 20 days, notes relating to that child will be given to Mrs. Smith at the end of the school year.

Role of Principal:

To inform the relevant authorities, in writing, (i) when a student is absent in excess of 20 school days in a school year, (ii) where a student is suspended for a period on excess of 6 school days,(iii) where a student’s name is removed from the register, or (iv) where, in the opinion of the Principal, the student is not attending school regularly.
To inform the Board of Management of school attendance rates.
To communicate to a school, to which a student is transferring, any problem relating to school attendance and other appropriate matters relating to the pupil’s educational progress.
To report annually to the Parents’ Association on the overall attendance of children in the school.