Attendance

Helping Your Child Succeed at School

 

Your child’s education is important, and your support makes a big difference. Here are some simple ways you can help:

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• Make school a priority – Ensure your child attends regularly, arrives on time (8.45am), and follows school rules. This helps them feel settled and ready to learn.

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• If your child is worried about school – Contact the school straight away. Working together, we can find solutions and make things better.

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• When your child is unwell – Let the school know on the first day of absence. Staff will be concerned if they don’t hear from you.

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• Explain any absences – If your child is absent from school, let school know why they are absent and follow the school’s arrangements.

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• Special occasions – If you’d like your child to miss school for a religious festival or other important event, please seek the school’s agreement well in advance and provide full details.

 

Please remember: Excellent attendance is required to obtain top grades. Your child’s grades will definitely decrease if they start to miss days at school.

 

• Schools cannot agree to absences for shopping trips, even for school uniforms.

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• Take an active interest in your child’s learning – your encouragement matters.

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• Support school staff in managing behaviour, so every child can learn in a positive environment.

 

Useful websites:

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School attendance – Department of Education for Northern Ireland

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School attendance and absence – NI Direct

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School attendance and absence: the law – NI Direct