Attendance

Attendance should be at least 96% for every child (unless medical conditions or exceptional circumstances prevent this)

Parents will receive regular updates on attendance from school and the Headteacher and all the staff monitor attendance daily, weekly, half termly and termly.  We recognise that attending school regularly has a positive impact on learning, progress, emotional wellbeing, social skills and therefore the best life chances for children. We will encourage good attendance for all pupils, by offering an environment in which pupils feel valued and part of our school family.

Department for Education (DfE) guidance states that all schools should have effective systems and procedures for encouraging regular school attendance and investigating the underlying causes of poor attendance which should be set out in an attendance policy.  These systems should be reviewed regularly and modified where necessary to reflect the circumstances of the school.

Ensuring your child's regular attendance at school is your legal responsibility and permitting absence from school without good reason creates an offence in law and may result in prosecution.

 Punctuality

Schools are legally required to take a register of pupils first thing in the morning and at some point in the afternoon. If a pupil is late but the register is still open they are marked as late. If the register has already closed when a pupil arrives late and without a satisfactory explanation, it may be classed as an unauthorised absence. This may lead to legal action for not ensuring regular and punctual school attendance. Punctuality is important because if, for example, a child arrives 15 minutes late at school each day, they lose almost 2 weeks of education a year!

Leave in term time

It is a legal requirement for parents/carers to obtain the permission of the Headteacher before removing their child from school in order to take any leave in term time.

Parents do not have an automatic right to take their children out of school for leave during term time and may be issued with a Penalty Notice (£120 per parent per child) if they do so without prior arrangement with the Headteacher. 

The legislation only allows the Headteacher to authorise such leave in exceptional circumstances.
 
To apply for a child to be granted leave from school parents should complete this form and return it to school for consideration well in advance of the proposed leave and before committing to any expense.

Upon receipt of a request the Headteacher will make a decision as to whether to authorise the absence, being mindful of government regulations and LA guidance.

It is important that, if you believe exceptional circumstances apply, you provide this information to school at the time of submitting this request.  Information submitted at a later date will not be considered. 

By definition, exceptional trips should not occur regularly. 

 Click on the link to download a Leave Request Form

How can I help my child attend school regularly?

Talk to your child about school and take a positive interest in their work, including homework.

Keep in touch with school staff. 

Contact school on the first day of absence if your child is unable to attend for whatever reason. 

Attend parents’ evenings and other school events.

 What should I do if I’m worried about my child’s school attendance?

The first thing to do is to contact the school to discuss your concerns with Mrs Wolff or Mrs Rogers.

What are my responsibilities regarding my child’s school attendance?

As a parent/carer it is your responsibility to ensure that any child of compulsory school age attends school both regularly and on time. The local authority has a duty to make sure that all parents/carers fulfil this responsibility.

What will happen if my child does not attend school regularly?

School will contact you in the first instance to raise concerns about your child’s attendance. If there is no no improvement, or there are particular difficulties involved, a referral will be made to the Attendance Support Team.

What if my child’s school attendance does not improve?

Parents whose children are on a school register and fail to ensure the regular and punctual attendance of their child(ren), may be guilty of an offence under Section 444 or 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996 and the Local Authority may issue a Penalty Notice or take enforcement action through the Courts to secure regular attendance.

Support for Young People - School anxietiesIf your child is anxious about going to school, or refusing to go to school at all, read our tips and advice on how you can support them and work with their school.