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Note explaining your child's absence from school (Ireland)
Ireland · in English · for parents
€2.00This document is sold blank, to print and complete by hand.
Made for use in Ireland
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This document is sold blank, to print and complete by hand.
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For a parent or guardian in Ireland whose child has missed school. Section 18 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 asks you to tell the principal the reason for each absence, in the way the school's code of behaviour sets — often its app, its journal or a note. This short note gives the dates and the reason, in your own words, and the day you first told the school. Hand it in or scan and email it. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as the reason may be health data.
- Made for use in Ireland
- Last updated November 3, 2026
- Document in English
Published byDocMuse
When to use this document
- Your child was off school in Ireland and the school wants a note.
- Your child missed a few days with a bad flu and you need to explain the absence.
- Your child was away for a family funeral and the teacher asked for the reason in writing.
- You want a simple absence note for the principal of your child's school.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Sender
- Sender's address
- Town and county (e.g. Ennis, Co. Clare; or Dublin 8)
- Sender's Eircode
- Date
- School
- School's address
- Child's name
- Class teacher
- Absent from
- Absent until
- Reason
- Date the school was told of the absence
- Phone
Common questions
- Do I have to give the school a reason when my child is absent in Ireland?
- Yes. Section 18 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 says the parent tells the principal the reason for a child's absence, for part of a day or for whole days, in the way the school's code of behaviour sets out. Many schools use their own app, the school journal or a phone call, all free; a written note like this one is for schools that ask for one, or for a longer absence.
- What happens if my child misses 20 days of school in a year?
- The school must report every student absent for 20 days or more in a school year to Tusla's Education Support Service, whatever the reasons, and it does so twice a year. A report does not mean action: where absences are explained, there may be no follow-up. If there is concern, an Educational Welfare Officer may contact you to talk about attendance.
- Does an Irish school need a doctor's certificate when my child is off sick?
- No law requires one for a short illness; telling the school the reason is what the Act asks. A school's attendance policy may ask for a medical certificate for a long or repeated illness, so read it or ask the office. You need not describe your child's illness in detail: 'illness' and the dates are usually enough.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
DocMuse sells documents, not legal advice. Acceptance always depends on the recipient's rules and your local law.
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