01 December 2004
New Website Makes Reporting of Attendance Data Easy for Schools

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) today announced details of its new website, www.schoolreturn.ie, which will make it easier for schools around the country to comply with their legal obligations to report student absences to the Board. The announcement was made at the launch of the NEWB’s service in Navan, Co. Meath, one of 12 regional towns and 6 cities where the Board now provides an intensive service.

Over the coming weeks, the first national guidelines on reporting student absences and expulsions will be sent to schools. These guidelines will provide step-by-step advice on how and when school attendance returns should be made. Schools are being asked to report individual student absences in summary format five times a year on designated dates. However, this year, schools will only have to make four returns with the first report on absences since the start of the school year to end January,2005 due during the week ending 4th February,2005. Schools submitted their first Annual School Attendance Reports at the end of the school year last year.

“Our new website facility will allow schools to report data easily and at no extra cost,” explained Eddie Ward, CEO. “We are aware that schools are already under time and resource pressure, yet, they are obliged under law to inform us about absences. Therefore, we have tried to develop a system which helps them fulfill their statutory obligations but which will not cost them precious time and money. The new website can be used as a school attendance management tool by the school. Support will be available to schools on using the new website.”

"Information on school attendance is crucial to ensuring that the educational welfare of children and young people is looked after now and in the future,” he continued. “Firstly, the timely reporting of absences means that our present EWOs can follow up quickly and efficiently on students about which there might be an immediate concern. Secondly, the returns will give us tangible data on which to base the future development of our service. If we see that a particular area in the country has a high level of absenteeism, for example, we can focus our resources there so that children don’t continue to miss out on their education.”

Standardised Student Absence Report forms will also be sent to schools. The forms will be used to report students who have absences of 20 days or more and the reasons why, students about whose attendance the Principal is concerned or students whose names have been removed from the register because of expulsion or transfer to another school, for example.

The website, guidelines and all other support materials have been developed in consultation with school managers, principals, teachers and parents. The website is confidential and will be accessed only using a school identity code. It is protected under the Data Protection Act (1988-2003) and the Education (Welfare) Act (2000).

For more information contact:
Edel Hackett
Tel: 087-2935207