Parent Information
Stay informed and involved in your child’s school life at Rathcoffey N.S. Here you’ll find everything you need in one place. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.
Student Health & Wellbeing
We care deeply about the health and safety of every child in our school community. Below is key information to help keep your child safe, supported, and ready to learn.
When to Stay at Home
Please do not send your child to school if they are unwell. If your child is too sick to go outside for break, they are too sick to attend school.
Reporting Absences
If your child is absent, please send a note or email explaining the reason once they return.
This is a requirement for school records.
Medication at School
If your child needs to take medication during school hours, please speak with the class teacher or Principal.
Written permission is required for all non-prescription medication.
Infectious Illnesses
Let the school know immediately if your child is diagnosed with an infectious illness. This helps us take steps to prevent further spread.
Head Lice
Head lice are a common occurrence. Please check your child’s hair regularly and let us know if there is an outbreak so we can inform other families. Treatments are easily available at pharmacies.
Health Conditions
If your child has any medical needs, health concerns, or physical challenges, please inform the Principal during enrolment or as soon as the issue arises. This ensures we can make any necessary arrangements to support your child.
All information is treated confidentially.
Immunisation & Screening
The HSE provides medical screening and booster immunisations for certain age groups. You will be notified if your child is eligible.
These will only be carried out with prior parental consent.
Anti-Bullying at Rathcoffey N.S.
We are committed to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for every child. As part of the national Bí Cineálta (Be Kind) initiative, we take a whole-school approach to preventing and addressing bullying behaviour, both online and offline.
What is bullying?
Bullying is any repeated, targeted behaviour that causes physical, emotional, or social harm. It often involves an imbalance of power, where the child being bullied feels they can’t defend themselves.
Bullying can be physical, verbal, relational (e.g. exclusion or gossip), or happen online (cyberbullying).
What isn't bullying?
One-off conflicts, friendship fallouts, or misunderstandings are not considered bullying, though they may still need to be addressed.
We always encourage open communication between children, teachers and parents to resolve issues early.
Our School's Approach
We follow the Department of Education’s Bí Cineálta procedures, focusing on:
Prevention through awareness, inclusion, and kindness.
Support for children who experience or witness bullying.
Restoring relationships where possible.
Community and oversight through school leadership, staff, and parental involvement.
What can parents do?
Talk regularly with your child about school life and friendships.
Encourage your child to speak up if they or someone else is being treated unkindly.
Contact the class teacher or principal if you have any concerns — early communication is key.
How We Respond
All reports of bullying are taken seriously. Staff act sensitively, with discretion and care. We work with both the child affected and the child displaying the behaviour to stop it and rebuild positive relationships.
Parents are kept informed and involved in finding the right solutions.
You can read our full Anti-Bullying Policy in the School Policies section or contact the school office for a printed copy.
Healthy Lunches
We promote healthy eating as part of our Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme and in line with HSE guidance. Encouraging good habits early supports children’s long-term health and wellbeing, including their concentration and energy levels throughout the school day.
What a Healthy Lunch looks like.
The goal of our healthy lunch policy is to support balanced eating.
We encourage lunches that are:
✅ High in fibre
✅ Low in salt
✅ Low in sugar
Recommended foods include:
– Fresh fruit and vegetables
– Wholegrain bread
– Milk, cheese, or yoghurt
– Lean meats, eggs, or fish
– Water or milk only (fizzy drinks are not allowed)
– One small treat on Fridays only
Chewing gum is not permitted on school grounds.
Why it matters.
Healthy eating supports:
– Oral health (we’ve seen a real drop in tooth decay since introducing this policy)
– Focus and behaviour in class
– Long-term health outcomes — including reduced risks of obesity and diet-related illness
Lunchbox & Waste Guidelines
As part of our Green Schools Programme, we ask families to help reduce lunch waste:
– Use a reusable lunchbox and drink bottle
– No glass bottles
– Children will bring home all wrappers and packaging
– Our school uses three-bin waste sorting: recycling, compost, and landfill
Please label all lunchboxes and bottles with your child’s name.
Need More Details?
Explore our full range of school policies, covering everything from enrolment and behaviour to safeguarding and online safety.