{"id":12757,"date":"2025-09-15T14:26:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T14:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/?p=12757"},"modified":"2025-09-24T08:36:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T08:36:53","slug":"new-national-campaign-aims-to-reduce-alarming-rates-of-school-absenteeism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/childrens-health\/new-national-campaign-aims-to-reduce-alarming-rates-of-school-absenteeism\/","title":{"rendered":"New national campaign aims to reduce alarming rates of school absenteeism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"background-color:#f2f2f2;color:#32373c\" class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-profile-box round ab-has-avatar ab-font-size-14 ab-block-profile ab-profile-columns\"><div class=\"ab-profile-column ab-profile-avatar-wrap\"><div class=\"ab-profile-image-wrap\"><figure class=\"ab-profile-image-square\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"410\" height=\"410\" class=\"ab-profile-avatar wp-image-12778\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/22113835\/vicky-1758541112-Aine-Okeeffe.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/22113835\/vicky-1758541112-Aine-Okeeffe.jpg 410w, https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/22113835\/vicky-1758541112-Aine-Okeeffe-125x125.jpg 125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 410px) 100vw, 410px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ab-profile-column ab-profile-content-wrap\"><h2 class=\"ab-profile-name\" style=\"color:#32373c\">\u00c1ine O\u2019Keeffe<\/h2><p class=\"ab-profile-title\" style=\"color:#32373c\">Director, Tusla Education Support Service<\/p><div class=\"ab-profile-text\"><\/div><ul class=\"ab-social-links\"><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color:#f2f2f2;color:#32373c\" class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-profile-box round ab-has-avatar ab-font-size-14 ab-block-profile ab-profile-columns\"><div class=\"ab-profile-column ab-profile-avatar-wrap\"><div class=\"ab-profile-image-wrap\"><figure class=\"ab-profile-image-square\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"479\" height=\"479\" class=\"ab-profile-avatar wp-image-12758\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/15135708\/vicky-1757944627-Dr-Collins-headshot.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/15135708\/vicky-1757944627-Dr-Collins-headshot.jpg 479w, https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/15135708\/vicky-1757944627-Dr-Collins-headshot-125x125.jpg 125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 479px) 100vw, 479px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ab-profile-column ab-profile-content-wrap\"><h2 class=\"ab-profile-name\" style=\"color:#32373c\">Dr Abigail Collins<\/h2><p class=\"ab-profile-title\" style=\"color:#32373c\">HSE National Clinical Lead<\/p><div class=\"ab-profile-text\"><\/div><ul class=\"ab-social-links\"><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tusla.ie\/get-in-touch\/education-and-welfare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tusla Education Support Service<\/a> (TESS) highlights the rise of casual non-attendance, plus advice from a public health doctor on how to know if your child is well enough to attend school.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>According to reports, approximately one in five children and young people in Irish households are missing a month or more of their school year. This rise in school absenteeism is increasingly linked to casual non-attendance (days missed here and there) and is often responsible for a decline in children\u2019s wellbeing and a barrier to achieving their potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cParents are responsible for their child\u2019s school attendance. It is essential that they, and others who can help support attendance, like grandparents, are aware of how many days their children are missing from school,\u201d explains \u00c1ine O\u2019Keeffe, Director, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tusla.ie\/get-in-touch\/education-and-welfare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TESS<\/a>. \u201cYou may think that one or two days here and there is harmless, but when it adds up to a more significant period of non-attendance, it can have a detrimental effect on a child\u2019s learning, development and wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-campaign-for-school-attendance\"><strong>Campaign for school attendance<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to this rising trend, the Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, announced a comprehensive suite of targeted and universal actions to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ie\/en\/department-of-education\/publications\/national-school-attendance-campaign-2023\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">improve school attendance<\/a> in May 2025. Among the key initiatives being introduced is a national multimedia campaign, launching this week, to promote the importance of regular school attendance to parents and guardians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe campaign will help to raise awareness of the research,\u201d explains O\u2019Keeffe. \u201cWhen children are in school, they get the full benefit of the day: the learning, friendships, fun and routine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She adds: \u201cSetting good habits around school attendance early in primary school builds expectations that grow with the child. Even when it feels challenging, fostering a sense of \u2018go in anyway\u2019 helps to create a positive pattern and good habit of regular attendance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>When children are in school, they <br>get the full benefit of the day: the <br>learning, friendships, fun and routine.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-balancing-health-and-being-present\"><strong>Balancing health and being present <\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since Covid-19, parents are understandably more cautious about sending their children to school with minor illnesses. It can be difficult for parents to know when it\u2019s okay for a child to go in and when they need to stay at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Abigail Collins, HSE National Clinical Lead, Child Health Public Health Consultant, offers practical tips on when a child with a minor illness can attend school and when to seek further advice. \u201cChildhood illnesses such as a runny nose, minor cough or a mild sore throat are extremely common, especially in winter. If a child is otherwise well, able to play and concentrate and is eating, drinking and going to the toilet, they should be attending school,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf, however, they have a high temperature 38\u00b0C or above, are too unwell to focus or are unusually tired or lethargic, they should stay home. Seek advice from mychild.ie, the local pharmacist or GP.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-annual-vaccination-and-good-hygiene\"><strong>Annual vaccination and good hygiene<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Collins advises on the importance of keeping children up to date with childhood vaccines, including the flu vaccine, as well as reinforcing the importance of good hygiene by washing hands and covering coughs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some things parents can do to prepare for times when their child becomes unwell. \u201cParents should keep a thermometer, fever and pain relief medicines and GP contact details close,\u201d she explains. \u201cSeek advice from trusted HSE guidance when symptoms develop, to know how best to support your child and when to seek further advice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-providing-clarity\"><strong>Providing clarity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>TESS is helping families make confident decisions about school attendance by providing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tusla.ie\/get-in-touch\/education-and-welfare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">clear guidance and support<\/a>, ensuring every child who can be in school is present, learning and with their peers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe want to create a culture where regular school attendance is the expectation. This requires collaboration from parents, grandparents, guardians and the wider community,\u201d O\u2019Keeffe adds. \u201cWe believe every day counts \u2014 that is why the guidance is on hand so that parents can make confident decisions about school attendance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#32373c;background-color:#00d1b2\" class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-notice ab-font-size-18 ab-block-notice\" data-id=\"5e5432\"><div class=\"ab-notice-text\" style=\"border-color:#00d1b2\"><p>Parents can find guidance on knowing when their child is well enough to attend school here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ie\/en\/department-of-education\/publications\/national-school-attendance-campaign-2023\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gov.ie\/SchoolAttendance<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video aligncenter\"><video height=\"1080\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1080 \/ 1080;\" width=\"1080\" controls src=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/23083953\/vicky-1758616791-TUSLA_ESDIAND_15_ENG_1x1_MASTERFILE-SUBBED.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) highlights the rise of casual non-attendance, plus advice from a public health doctor on how to know if your child is well enough to attend school. According to reports, approximately one in five children and young people in Irish households are missing a month or more of their school year. &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/childrens-health\/new-national-campaign-aims-to-reduce-alarming-rates-of-school-absenteeism\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":12799,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3099],"tags":[5981],"class_list":["post-12757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-childrens-health","tag-childrens-health-wellbeing-2025"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/23081752\/vicky-1758615464-Tusla-TESS-school-attendance-2025-1-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com\/app\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/23081752\/vicky-1758615464-Tusla-TESS-school-attendance-2025-1-600x600.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"henryphillips","author_link":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/author\/henryphillips\/"},"vicky_index_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12757"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12757\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12811,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12757\/revisions\/12811"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthnews.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}