Strategy Statement(Strategy for an Appreciation of Learning and Promotion of Attendance (Strategy for an Appreciation of Learning and Promotion of Attendance

& Participation)& Participation)

Regional Seminar

School Development Planning Initiative

“An initiative for schools by schools”

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SDP & Legislative ContextSDP & Legislative Context

Education Act 1998School Plan – S. 21 & Report – S. 20

Education Welfare Act 2000Admissions PolicyStrategy for Learning Appreciation, Attendance &

ParticipationCode of Behaviour

Equal Status Act 2000 Mainstreaming & integration of special needs students

Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act – 2004

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Tackling DisadvantageTackling Disadvantage

Access - Attendance

Participation - Inclusion

Retention - Outcomes Equity and Inclusion are key values promoted by

recent legislation

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Education Welfare Act 2000Education Welfare Act 2000

22 (1)…..that school, prepare and submit to the Board a statement of the strategiesstatement of the strategies and measures it proposes to adopt for the purposes of fostering an appreciation of appreciation of learninglearning among students attending that school and encouraging regular regular attendanceattendance at school on the part of such students …..

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Strategy for an Appreciation of Strategy for an Appreciation of Learning and Promotion of Learning and Promotion of Attendance & ParticipationAttendance & Participation

Education Welfare Act 2000 – S.22(1) : key issues reward good attendance record identify developing attendance problems liaise with homes of at risk students network with other schools, local clubs, youth organisations, &

others promote extra-curricular & co-curricular activities encourage full participation promote good behaviour ensure meaningful curriculum simplify procedures for attendance & participation

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What is the Statement of Strategy?What is the Statement of Strategy?

Statement of mission promoting attendance and participation by all students in the full life of the school

Statement signposting policies and practices in the school that promote an appreciation of learning and good attendance

Statement of priorities for development with special reference to the nine listed categories

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NEWB 2003/’04 National NEWB 2003/’04 National Attendance ReportAttendance Report

Response rate from post-primary 71%

Average attendance 91.3%

Absent more than 20 days 18.9%

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NEWB Recommendations for NEWB Recommendations for SchoolsSchools

Helpline is for parents and schools Write to parents if you are concerned-20 days need

not necessarily be the issue If you are very concerned you can contact NEWB

before 20 days have elapsed Be careful of ‘absolutes’—adult literacy difficulties,

lack of undersanding, etc… may be the reason for no reply to school correspondence

Use standard forms when reporting to NEWB (electronic means soon)

School templates of standard letters to be sent to parents are in the pipeline (from NEWB)

NEWB emphasises its supportive role to all of the partners

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General Policy RecommendationsGeneral Policy Recommendations

Need for clear written policies in relation to: Attendance Code of Behaviour Suspension Expulsion

The views of students, parents and former students are a key resource

Need for key policies (written) to be communicated to relevant partners

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Educational Welfare OfficerEducational Welfare Officer

Main issues facing the Educational Welfare

Officer: Suspensions Expulsions School refusal Unexplained absences Refusal by school to enrol Special Needs

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NEWB Lo-call HelplineNEWB Lo-call Helpline1890 36 36 66 (2,805 calls)1890 36 36 66 (2,805 calls)

Major Categoties Won’t go to school 19% Special Needs 16% Bullying 16% Home education 12% Suspension/ 10%

expulsion

Minor categories Rules re illness 10% Moving 6% Holidays 6% School transport 5%

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Main Geographic Breakdown of Main Geographic Breakdown of 1890 Calls1890 Calls

Dublin 30%

Cork 9%

Galway 6%

Meath 6%

Wicklow 5%

Kildare 4.5%

Westmeath 4%

Limerick 3%

Waterford 3%

Wexford 3%

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NEWB Lo-Call Service: ParentsNEWB Lo-Call Service: Parents(70% of calls)(70% of calls)

FAQs soon to be posted on NEWB Website

Most frequently asked questions by Parents My child is being bullied in school. What am I or the

NEWB going to do about it? My child has been suspended / expelled. What do I do?. I am educating my child at home. I want to register with

the NEWB and get advice about how to educate my child. What do I do?

My child is refusing to go to school – Help! I wish to take my child out of school on a family holiday

during term time. Am I allowed? My child isn’t yet 16 but has been offered a job and wants

to leave school.

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Lo-Call Service: SchoolsLo-Call Service: Schools(30% of calls)(30% of calls)

Most frequently asked questions by Schools

Have we an Educational Welfare Officer for our area and how do we contact him/her?

I’ve a really urgent case here. Despite all our efforts this pupil will not come to school, what can I do?

Do I take a child’s name off the register, I’m pretty sure they’ve gone elsewhere?

Will we be getting guidelines and a standardised returns form?

When a child moves from Primary to Secondary should the Primary school await written confirmation from the Secondary school before taking the child’s name off the register?

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Comments?

Policy ConsiderationsPolicy Considerations

ConsultationConsultation

ResourcesResources

CommunicationCommunication

Implementation &

Monitoring

Implementation &

Monitoring

Evaluation &

Review

Evaluation &

Review

Legislation Legislation

VALUES,DESIRED

OUTCOMES,MEASURES

VALUES,DESIRED

OUTCOMES,MEASURES

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‘‘Statement of Strategy’Statement of Strategy’Possible TemplatePossible Template

Title Link to Mission & Aims – Identify as benchmark value Rationale and aims – why have it? What are aims? Executive Summary of current provision – Reference to

relevant policies, procedures & practices already in place

Consultation procedures – involvement of partners Needs Analysis – results of review process Development Content – Agreed priority areas (under 9

headings) Roles, Responsibility & time frame – who, what and

when? Success Criteria – implementation & outcomes Monitoring and Evaluation – when & how?

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Whole School PlanningWhole School Planning

Mission Statement

Attendance and Participation:Strategy Statement

Legislative/Trustee Policies Whole School Policies Student Support Policies

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Whole School PlanningWhole School Planning

Others?

Child Protection

I.T. Usage

Health and Safety

Substance Misuse

Code of Behaviour/Suspension/Expulsion

Admissions

Legislative/Trustee Poloicies

Others?

Teaching and LearningSubject Department Planning

Homew ork

Curriculum Development

Staff Development

Special Needs

Pastoral Care

Home School Links

W hole School Policies

Others?

Breakfeast Club/Lunch Club

Guidance

Bereavement

Extra Curricular

Anti -bullying

Meitheal/Cara/Student Council

Student Support Policies

Attendance and Participation:Strategy Statem ent

M ission Statem ent

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Attendance and Attendance and Participation:Participation:

Key Questions re 9 Areas Key Questions re 9 Areas

Simplify Procedures for

A & P

Meaningful Curriculum

Promoting Good Behaviour

Encouraging Full

Participation

Co/extra CurricularActivities

Community Networking

Liaise With Home

Identifying Problems

Rewards Structure

Strategy Statement

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Workshop – Workshop – ‘Statement of Strategy’ for ‘Statement of Strategy’ for

your School your School

1. List the ways you meet the requirements of a statement of strategy in your school already?

(Use the 9 headings as a guide)

2. Who should be consulted in the drafting of the statement and how?

3. How might you address those needs not

yet being met? (Focus on key areas of need)

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Strategy Statement: Road MapStrategy Statement: Road Map

What does our Mission Statement say about ….? What are our policies saying about …? What is currently happening in our school

regarding the nine areas in the legislation? What/where are the gaps? In what order of priority will they be addressed? How will we evaluate the effectiveness of the

Statement? What are the indicators of good practice in this area?

Record all of the above findings…..