Since the inception of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, schools are obliged to report on school attendance.  The agency that collects this data is the NEWB. It is our duty to act where a child is not receiving an adequate education.  We work with the child, the family, the school and whatever partner agencies are active in a particular child’s case.  The NEWB consider fostering partnership with schools to be one of our most pressing priorities, and the most likely route to positive outcomes for children.

Poor school attendance needs to be responded to early; otherwise, as research has shown, it can lead to poorer exam results, early school leaving (some children do not transfer from primary to post primary school each year), and poorer life chances for children.

The timely reporting of student absences impacts directly upon the National Educational Welfare Board's [NEWB] ability to meet the educational welfare needs of individual students.

You need to submit a return on those students with serious attendance issues that have been identified during the current academic year i.e. students falling within the following criteria:

• a student has been absent from school for a cumulative total of twenty days or more
• a student’s name is to be removed from the school register for any reason
• a student has been suspended for a cumulative total of six or more days
• a principal is concerned about a student’s attendance
• the school has expelled a student

Occasionally, schools have thought it necessary to submit a return on all pupils. This isn’t so;- we only need to know about pupils within the strict reporting criteria.

There are four student absence reports (Click here to download pdfs of Primary and Post Primary reporting dates) and one annual attendance report due each year and these can be submitted online (Click here to download a pdf of the Reporting Online Quick Guide ) on www.schoolreturn.ie or on paper.

Click here to download paper forms
NEWB School Return Form Primary (PDF Format)
NEWB School Return Form Post Primary (PDF Format)
NEWB Continuation Sheet (PDF Format)

Download Guidelines on Reporting of Student Absences and Expulsions
NEWB Guidelines English (PDF Format)
NEWB Guidelines Irish (PDF Format)

Notice of decision to expel a student

Where a board of management decides to expel a student, the NEWB should be notified immediately using a Notice of Decision to Expel Form. This information is required under the Act and allows the NEWB to intervene before the decision takes effect.

The School Register

Each school is required to keep a register of all students containing certain information (see Guidelines on Reporting of Student Absences and Expulsions)
NEWB Guidelines English (PDF Format)
NEWB Guidelines Irish (PDF Format)

School Attendance Record

Each school is required to keep an Attendance Record for all students registered in the school – Guidelines on Reporting of Student Absences and Expulsions
NEWB Guidelines English (PDF Format)
NEWB Guidelines Irish (PDF Format)

Download Intent to Expel Form
NEWB Decision to Expel Form (PDF Format)