Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8

1. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 Name: Elizabeth Hoyne Job Title: Educational Welfare Officer Geographical Area of Work: Dublin 8 Liberties / Coombe Area and Part of Dublin 2

2. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 • Under Article 42 of the Irish Constitution all children are entitle to receive an Education • This right is protected by legislation known as the Education Welfare Act, 2000 • NEWB Reporting Structures for Schools • Returns / Annual Attendance Reports (AARs)

3. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 • Visualise the role of the Educational Welfare Officer • Allocation of Schools to Educational Welfare Officers (EWO) • Scale of School Absenteeism 22 Schools = Approx. pupil population of 4,000

4. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 • Previous response mechanisms devised included individual case work, learning from practice and local interventions • In 2009 Announcement to Integrate the services of HSCL, SCP with EWS in the NEWB • National momentum was building for collaborative working • In the Summer of 2010 Integrate Strategic Action Plan was put in place in Dublin 8 Liberties Cluster

5. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 School Attendance Policy

6. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 Priority Strategy = Intensive Integrated Core Target Group Strategy for Liberties Cluster • Pupils with Chronic levels of School Absenteeism 10 pupils x 10 DEIS Band One Schools = 100 pupils Common Agreements: • Each child would be placed on an attendance chart • Monthly Attendance Meetings attended by HSCL, SCP, EWO and School Principal • Monthly attendance letter sent after meetings

7. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 • Integration within the Core Target Group Strategy: • The 100 selected pupils were the top case load of EWO and followed EWO case management • The same 100 pupils were profiled according to SCP Criteria and followed SCP intervention profile • The same 100 pupils were monitored by HSCL on the attendance chart system and positive parental contact was made regarding attendance throughout the entire school year

8. Integrated Attendance Strategy in Dublin 8 • Results of Core Target Group Strategy: • School Year Prior to Strategy 2009 /2010 each pupil on the Core Target Group missed on average 42 school days each • School Year after work took place on the Core Target Group each pupil missed on average 24 days each • On average therefore the attendance improved by 42% or put another way each pupil on the Core Target Group attended school for almost one month more than the previous school year

9. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 • Preventive and Motivational School Attendance Strategies: • School Welcome Strategy • Frequent School Attendance Awards / School Award • Communication Wall • EWO Classroom Roll Book Visits • Parental Communication Strategy • Use of Incredible Years Strategy

10. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 • Early Intervention School Attendance Strategies: • Member of School Staff to Champion Attendance • Standardised letters sent by school at agreed absent days • Agreed pre parental meeting at specific number of absent days • EWO Classroom Roll Book Visit • EWO at Intake Parent meetings and Parent committee meetings

11. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 • Common School Attendance Policy for the Liberties Area:

12. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 • Results of Integrated Attendance Strategy: • Overall the Liberties cluster area improved attendance by 9,768 school days in 20 10/2011 than in 2009/2010 • Based on a Primary school year of 183 days this equates to 53.3 years worth of Primary schooling or a 25% reduction in school absenteeism across the Liberties area

13. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 • Results of Integrated Attendance Strategy: • 120 less pupils were reported to the NEWB in the school year 2010/2011 than in 2009/2010 for missing over 20 school days • This equates to a 22% reduction in the number of pupils reported to the NEWB from the Liberties area • Pupils with chronic levels of school absenteeism improved their attendance on average by 42%

14. Integrated Attendance Strategy of Dublin 8 • Schools Involved in the Integrated Attendance Strategy: St. AudoensPrimary, Mater Dei Primary School, Scoil San Seamús, St. Francis Street CBS, St. Brigids Primary School, St. Enda’s Primary, Scoil Treasa Naofa, Presentation Primary Warrenmount, St. James CBS Secondary and Presentation College Warrenmount NEWB Service Strands: EWS: Elizabeth Hoyne, SCP : Margaret McGlynn HSCL: Niamh Kavanagh, Brían Comaskey, Cliodhna O Reilly, Victoria McQuaid, Terry Kehoe, Anne Dempsey, Johanna Doherty, Deirdre Cronin and Kylie Hill