Set up your school’s Late Alert message templates and occurrence thresholds before sending alerts to parents/guardians.

1. Create the message templates

1. Open Communications → Personal Notifications → PN Templates and click Add.
2. In Message type, choose Late Alert Option 1, 2, 3 or 4 for the stage you are setting up. These are separate from Late and Absence Alert Option message types.
3. Enter a parent-facing Title and Content. Keep the wording reusable; do not put an individual student’s name or personal circumstances into a shared template.
4. Click Submit. Repeat for every option your school uses. To update an existing template, use its edit icon in the template list.

Select the matching Late Alert Option, then enter your school-approved title and content.

2. Match options to late thresholds

1. Open Attendance Overview → Late Alerts and click Manage Thresholds.
2. In Manage Late Alert Thresholds, review the Option and Late Occurrences columns.
3. To change a stage, click its Edit icon. Enter the required Late Threshold (occurrences) and click Save Changes. The option number cannot be changed on an existing threshold.
4. To add another stage, click Add New Threshold, choose an available Option, enter Late Threshold (occurrences) and click Add Threshold.
5. Check the saved list and confirm that each option has a matching template with the correct title and wording.

This school’s example uses 1, 2 and 3 late occurrences. These are not required defaults; use your school’s agreed values.

When editing, change the occurrence count and select Save Changes. Cancel leaves without saving.

Thresholds count late occurrences, not minutes late or absence days. For example, a school might agree the following stages:

3. Adapt the example wording

The examples below match the example stages above. Adapt the contact person and next steps to your school’s punctuality policy. Check the threshold and review period before using them.

Example: 3 late occurrences

Title: Punctuality update – 3 late occurrences

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Our records show that your student has reached the school’s threshold of 3 late occurrences during the period reviewed. Arriving on time helps students settle into the school day and take part in the opening activities. Please support your student to arrive by the school’s start time. If anything is making punctuality difficult, please contact the Year Head so we can discuss support. Thank you if you have already been in touch.

Example: 5 late occurrences

Title: Punctuality follow-up – 5 late occurrences

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Our records show that your student has reached the school’s threshold of 5 late occurrences during the period reviewed. Please discuss punctuality with your student and contact the Year Head if there are difficulties we can help address. We would like to work with you to support regular, on-time arrival. Thank you for your cooperation.

Example: 10 late occurrences

Title: Punctuality review – 10 late occurrences

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Our records show that your student has reached the school’s threshold of 10 late occurrences during the period reviewed. Please contact the Year Head to review the record, discuss any barriers to arriving on time and agree practical next steps. If you are already working with the school on this, thank you for your continued contact.

Example: 15 late occurrences

Title: Punctuality support meeting – 15 late occurrences

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Our records show that your student has reached the school’s threshold of 15 late occurrences during the period reviewed. Please contact the Year Head to arrange a discussion about punctuality and the support or next steps appropriate under the school’s policy. If you have already spoken with us, thank you; please continue to keep the school informed.

4. Review and send your first alert

1. Check that the option numbers, occurrence counts and template wording agree.
2. Open Late Alerts, confirm the academic year and date range, then click Apply.
3. Review the students and follow Send Late Alerts to Parents and Guardians. Preview each stage you intend to use.

Creating a threshold or template does not itself send an alert. Complete the reviewed Send Alerts workflow when you are ready.

For help, email staffsupport@uniqueschools.ie or book Zoom training.