Strategy Statement (Strategy for an Appreciation of Learning and Promotion of Attendance & Participation) Regional Seminar School Development Planning Initiative “ An initiative for schools by schools”

2 SDP & Legislative Context Education Act 1998 School Plan – S. 21 & Report – S. 20 Education Welfare Act 2000 Admissions Policy Strategy for Learning Appreciation, Attendance & Participation Code of Behaviour Equal Status Act 2000 Mainstreaming & integration of special needs students Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act – 2004

3 Tackling Disadvantage Access - Attendance Participation - Inclusion Retention - Outcomes Equity and Inclusion are key values promoted by recent legislation

4 Education Welfare Act 2000 statement of the strategies appreciation of learning regular attendance 22 (1)…..that school, prepare and submit to the Board a statement of the strategies and measures it proposes to adopt for the purposes of fostering an appreciation of learning among students attending that school and encouraging regular attendance at school on the part of such students …..

5 Strategy for an Appreciation of Learning and Promotion of Attendance & Participation Education Welfare Act 2000 – S.22(1) : key issues reward good attendance record identify developing attendance problems liaise with homes of at risk students network with other schools, local clubs, youth organisations, & others promote extra-curricular & co-curricular activities encourage full participation promote good behaviour ensure meaningful curriculum simplify procedures for attendance & participation

6 What is the Statement of Strategy? Statement of mission promoting attendance and participation by all students in the full life of the school Statement signposting policies and practices in the school that promote an appreciation of learning and good attendance Statement of priorities for development with special reference to the nine listed categories

7 NEWB 2003/’04 National Attendance Report Response rate from post-primary71% Average attendance91.3% Absent more than 20 days18.9%

8 NEWB Recommendations for Schools Helpline is for parents and schools Write to parents if you are concerned-20 days need not necessarily be the issue If you are very concerned you can contact NEWB before 20 days have elapsed Be careful of ‘absolutes’—adult literacy difficulties, lack of undersanding, etc… may be the reason for no reply to school correspondence Use standard forms when reporting to NEWB (electronic means soon) School templates of standard letters to be sent to parents are in the pipeline (from NEWB) NEWB emphasises its supportive role to all of the partners

9 General Policy Recommendations  Need for clear written policies in relation to: Attendance Code of Behaviour Suspension Expulsion  The views of students, parents and former students are a key resource  Need for key policies (written) to be communicated to relevant partners

10 Educational Welfare Officer Main issues facing the Educational Welfare Officer: Suspensions Expulsions School refusal Unexplained absences Refusal by school to enrol Special Needs

11 NEWB Lo-call Helpline (2,805 calls) Major Categoties Won’t go to school 19% Special Needs16% Bullying16% Home education 12% Suspension/10% expulsion Minor categories Rules re illness10% Moving6% Holidays6% School transport5%

12 Main Geographic Breakdown of 1890 Calls Dublin30% Cork9% Galway6% Meath6% Wicklow5% Kildare4.5% Westmeath4% Limerick3% Waterford3% Wexford3%

13 NEWB Lo-Call Service: Parents (70% of calls) FAQs soon to be posted on NEWB Website Most frequently asked questions by Parents My child is being bullied in school. What am I or the NEWB going to do about it? My child has been suspended / expelled. What do I do?. I am educating my child at home. I want to register with the NEWB and get advice about how to educate my child. What do I do? My child is refusing to go to school – Help! I wish to take my child out of school on a family holiday during term time. Am I allowed? My child isn’t yet 16 but has been offered a job and wants to leave school.

14 Lo-Call Service: Schools (30% of calls) Most frequently asked questions by Schools Have we an Educational Welfare Officer for our area and how do we contact him/her? I’ve a really urgent case here. Despite all our efforts this pupil will not come to school, what can I do? Do I take a child’s name off the register, I’m pretty sure they’ve gone elsewhere? Will we be getting guidelines and a standardised returns form? When a child moves from Primary to Secondary should the Primary school await written confirmation from the Secondary school before taking the child’s name off the register?

15 Comments?

Policy Considerations VALUES, DESIRED OUTCOMES, MEASURES ConsultationResourcesCommunication Implementation & Monitoring Evaluation & Review Legislation

17 ‘Statement of Strategy’ Possible Template Title Link to Mission & Aims – Identify as benchmark value Rationale and aims – why have it? What are aims? Executive Summary of current provision – Reference to relevant policies, procedures & practices already in place Consultation procedures – involvement of partners Needs Analysis – results of review process Development Content – Agreed priority areas (under 9 headings) Roles, Responsibility & time frame – who, what and when? Success Criteria – implementation & outcomes Monitoring and Evaluation – when & how?

18 Whole School Planning Mission Statement Attendance and Participation: Strategy Statement Legislative/Trustee Policies ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Whole School Policies ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Student Support Policies ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

19 Whole School Planning

20 Attendance and Participation: Key Questions re 9 Areas Strategy Statement Rewards Structure Identifying Problems Liaise With Home Community Networking Co/extra Curricular Activities Encouraging Full Participation Promoting Good Behaviour Meaningful Curriculum Simplify Procedures for A & P

21 Workshop – ‘Statement of Strategy’ for your School 1.List the ways you meet the requirements of a statement of strategy in your school already? (Use the 9 headings as a guide) 2. Who should be consulted in the drafting of the statement and how? 3. How might you address those needs not yet being met? (Focus on key areas of need)

22 Strategy Statement: Road Map What does our Mission Statement say about ….? What are our policies saying about …? What is currently happening in our school regarding the nine areas in the legislation? What/where are the gaps? In what order of priority will they be addressed? How will we evaluate the effectiveness of the Statement? What are the indicators of good practice in this area? Record all of the above findings…..