Frequently Asked Questions for Traveller Pupils

• If the child has not arrived a week after the due date of commencement, all efforts should be made to contact the parent or guardian. Intercultural Education Service staff are willing to help schools in these efforts.
• EWS (Education Welfare Service) may make information requests to partner agencies if you have a possible location.
• Intercultural Education Support Service advises that removing a pupil from the register can only be done  if the DE protocols (SA1) have been met under DE Circular 2019/14  (Attendance Guidance and Absence Recording by Schools)

**NB: A “New Child”, who has never attend at least one day, should not be on the school register in the first instance. **

• Schools should try to initiate contact with family by implementing its own  attendance policy.
• Consider contacting extended family members using other contacts named  on the pupil profile data.
• As part of this process, schools may choose to liaise with Intercultural Education Support Service or other Traveller Support Organisations.
• If unsuccessful, the case can be referred to EWS as they may make  information requests to colleagues across Ireland and Great Britain.
• Following on the implementation of the above process with no positive  outcome in terms of locating the family, then the place can be reallocated  only if the DE protocols (SA1) have been met under DE Circular 2019/14  (Attendance Guidance and Absence Recording by Schools).

• The Principal or Attendance Coordinator should refer the matter to EWS;
• EWS may initiate information requests to colleagues in Ireland and Great  Britain and let the Principal know the outcome;
• Following this, the school may consider referring the matter to the Board of  Governors (BOG). The Principal may withdraw the child’s name from the  school register if the DE protocols (SA1) have been met under DE Circular  2019/14.
• Should the family return to the area they must reapply for a place in the  school in the normal manner.

• The school has in fact been informed that the family “intend” to leave the  jurisdiction. This is reasonable grounds for removing the child’s name from  the school register only if the DE protocols (SA1) have been met under  DE Circular 2019/14 (Attendance Guidance and Absence Recording by  Schools).
• The Principal should issue a Certificate of Attendance on the day he/she  has been informed of the departure and withdraw the child’s name from  the school register the same day. The certificate should be issued directly  to the parent, preferably in person. If this is not possible then issue to the  parent’s home address or new forwarding address (if you have it).

• The school’s attendance policy should be shared and clarified with all  parents whose children are coming to school – either Primary or Post  Primary. It should be pointed out that extended holidays for lengthy periods  are not approved and are considered as unauthorised absences;
• The matter should be referred to EWS;
• Holidays leave is not a reason for removing a child’s name from the school’s  register;
• The school is obliged to retain a child’s name on the register;
• Internal audit does not encourage schools to remove a pupils name from  the register unless it is clear that the child is attending school elsewhere or  the child is no longer of statutory school age.