ATTENDANCE STRATEGIES

1. ATTENDANCE STRATEGIES VISION 20/20 NAYC 2009

2. Introduction • Early School leavers • Student facilities • Absenteeism / reasons • Promoting good attendance • Introduction policy following recommendations from Dept of Education inspection • How policy was introduced • Statistics / comparisons Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

3. Early School Leavers • History of non-attendance upon admission to Youthreach • Sense of failure in the education system • Low academic achievements • Family dysfunction / addiction • May have come to the attention of the JLO/courts Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

4. Youthreach Student facilities • Warm, friendly and welcoming atmosphere • Learner-centred approach • FEATC levels 3, 4 and 5 offered • Meals provided • Bus service provided • On site crèche provided Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

5. Why do students not attend? • Illness, medical or dental appointments • Feeling of exclusion (bullying) • Travellers - may be travelling • Family bereavement /separation • Young person may be a carer of family • Special occasions / Family holidays • Depression, family difficulties • Students responsible for looking after younger siblings whilst parents work • Homelessness / drinking / drug-taking • Siblings / parents may have been poor attenders at school Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

6. Punctuality • Be clear in terms of times when register is open/closed • Be firm but fair (may have the effect of discouraging the latecomer from attending at all) • Consider where responsibility for punctuality rests, with them or the parents • Use positive encouragement • Bear in mind the centres geographical settings • Be consistently applied by all staff Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

7. Promoting good attendance • Wall chart on student attendance / punctuality mounted in canteen • Reports to parents • Certificate presentations • Photo-displays featuring good attending / improving students • Presentations and prizes for 100% attenders at end of each year (Christmas party) Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

8. Centre Inspection Recommendations • Enrolment applications should always be processed as quickly as possible • Priority should be given to reviewing the impact of existing attendance strategies and consolidating such efforts further • Development of a written attendance policy which should outline the actions to be taken on the case of persistent non-attendances Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

9. Education Welfare Board • Responsible for students up to 16 years old • Students with less than Junior certificate • Centres must follow school guidelines for non-attendees under age • Report 20 day absence to EWO Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

10. Rush Youthreach • At interview and on induction students are told that 100% attendance expected • Students sign in each morning and if absent they are expected to call centre, not their parents • Attendance/punctuality policy in place, signed by parent and student on placement Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

11. Teaching Staff • Must keep a class register • Should call roll at each class (regardless of class size) • Mark students if late for class • Keep note of concerns if students are persistently late or absent and report at staff meetings where it can be logged Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

12. Attendance Policy • Students must produce doctor certificate if absent through illness • Twelve days per year for illness will be paid upon producing doctor certificate • Students absent for 10 days without a valid reason will receive a verbal warning • Students absent for 20 days without a valid reason may be terminated immediately (EWO will be contacted) • If a student wishes to return to the centre they may reapply and will be placed on the waiting list • Students may be offered place back but not necessarily in the same class Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

13. How were policies put in place? • Consultation with SCP, NEWB, students and parents • Attendance tracking database • Regular staff meetings • Student council • Internal Centre Evaluation (ICE) • Centre Development Plan (CDP) Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

14. Did attendance improve? • Students took responsibility for their own attendance • Did not wish to lose place on programme • Students were not aware of days absent from the centre • Parents encouraged attendance • All staff encourage students to improve attendance Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

15. Attendance statisticsSept 2007 – Jan 2008 • Centre operational 85 days • Students absent on average 37days (43.5%) Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

16. Attendance statisticsSept 2008 – Jan 2009 • Centre operational 96 days • Students absent on average 14 days (14.5%) Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

17. Comparison Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

18. Centre Ethos • It is essential to keep the emphasis on promoting and encouraging good attendance • When students get it right, let them know – and let them know loud and clear Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach

19. Conclusion • Attendance in Rush up on average 66% since introduction of policy • Punctuality, small improvement - large geographical area, poor public transport • Students very clear of expectations of centre and attendance policy ‘Verbal Praise and positive feedback are extrinsic reinforcers that have been found to increase, not decrease, intrinsic interest’ (Salvin, 2003:147) Christine Hughes - Rush Youthreach