At Coláiste Bhaile Chláir we believe that regular school attendance is essential for students to achieve their full potential. Each day of learning builds on the previous one, and being present ensures that students do not miss out on valuable educational opportunities.
Students with this attendance rate miss around ~9 days of school per year. This is generally considered excellent and keeps learning on track.
Missing ~19 days of school in a year means almost a full month of learning is lost, which can impact progress significantly.
Missing over 28 days of school in a year can have a serious impact on academic achievement and engagement.
Our goal at Coláiste Bhaile Chláir is to work with families to help students maintain an attendance rate of 95% or above.
If your child is absent from school, it is important that you inform the school as soon as possible. Parents and guardians can report an absence in any of the following ways:
Log in to the TYRO parent app or portal and submit an absence note directly. This is the fastest and preferred method. Download the app and use the school code provided at enrolment.
Call 091 799 001 to inform the school office of your child’s absence before 9am on the day of the absence.
On your child’s return to school, provide a written note explaining the reason for the absence to their Year Head or form teacher.
For ongoing or medical absences, contact Mr David Broderick directly at [email protected].
Our goal at Coláiste Bhaile Chláir is to work with families to help students maintain an attendance rate of 95% or above.
Students who arrive late to school must sign in at reception. Lateness is recorded on TYRO and parents are notified. The table below outlines how different types of attendance marks and notes are recorded and what they mean.
Mark / Code
Description
Status
✓ Present
Student attended the class/lesson on time
Authorised
L — Late
Student arrived late to school or class. Must sign in at reception. Parents notified via TYRO.
Monitored
A — Absent
Student was absent. Absence becomes authorised once a satisfactory explanation is provided (TYRO, phone or written note).
Pending note
U — Unexplained
Absence has not been explained within a reasonable time. The school will follow up with parents directly.
Unauthorised
M — Medical
Absence due to illness or medical appointment. A doctor's cert may be requested for extended absences.
Authorised
H — Holiday
Absence during term time for a family holiday. Parents should inform the school in advance. Not automatically authorised.
Reviewed
Approved Exemption
Pre-approved absence for school trips, competitions, bereavement or exceptional circumstances. Must be agreed with Year Head in advance.
Authorised
TYRO: Parents can view their child’s attendance record at any time through the TYRO parent portal or app. Absence notifications are sent automatically by text and email when a student is marked absent.
If your child requires an extended absence from school due to illness or a medical condition, please contact the school as early as possible. The school works with students and families to ensure that work is not missed unnecessarily.
For absences of 5 or more consecutive days due to illness, the school may request a medical certificate from your GP or consultant. This helps the school support the student’s return and ensures accurate records are kept.
If a student is absent for an extended period, their Year Head and Caomhnóir (form tutor) will stay in contact with the family and arrange for any missed work to be provided. Arrangements for phased return to school can be discussed with the Year Head.
TUSLA Reporting: Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, the school is required to report students who are absent for 20 or more days in a school year to TUSLA — the Child and Family Agency. The school will always try to engage with families before any such referral is made.
We understand that sometimes students face challenges that affect their attendance. The school has a range of supports in place to help students and families.
Each student has a dedicated Caomhnóirí who links with them weekly and a Year Head who monitors attendance patterns and provides early support.
Parents can track their child’s attendance in real time via VSWare. The attendance link is in the top right-hand corner of the school website.
Where attendance is linked to wellbeing concerns, our Wellbeing & Guidance Team are available to provide confidential support to students and families.
We work in partnership with parents to understand and address barriers to attendance, ensuring every student can engage fully with their education.
Mr David Broderick is the school’s designated attendance officer. He monitors patterns, follows up with families and coordinates support for students with persistent attendance difficulties.
For students returning after an extended absence, we can arrange a phased return plan, catch-up supports and regular check-ins to ease the transition back to school life.
