Attendance
Please find links to important documents and leaflets at the bottom of this page including our attendance policy
Why school attendance matters
Missing a few days of school here and there may not seem huge, but research shows that it has a significant impact on children’s learning. Excellent attendance at school allows a child to have the best possible start in life.
Going to school regularly is important for your child’s future. Parents / carers are responsible for making sure their child receives full-time education. Parents are legally responsible for making sure that children attend school. If your child doesn’t go to school, you could be fined or prosecuted.
Every child has a right to education and to have the best possible life chances. By attending school daily and on time they learn the importance of commitment and being punctual, a life skill that will serve them well as they grow into the next generation of working citizens.
There are lots of reasons why a child should attend school:
- To learn
- To build confidence and self-esteem
- To understand responsibility
- To develop new skills
- To grow as individuals
- To gain qualifications
- To make new friends, have fun and develop life skills
- To develop awareness of other cultures
Good school attendance is not just beneficial, it’s essential. Attending school is directly linked to improved exam performance which should in turn lead to further learning opportunities and better job prospects when the child grows up.
How to prevent your child from missing school
You can do this by…
- having a routine from an early age and sticking it to it
- making sure your child understands the importance of good attendance and punctuality
- making sure they understand the possible implications for themselves and you as a parent if they don’t attend
- taking an interest in their education – ask about school work and encourage them to get involved in school activities
- discussing any problems they may have at school and letting their teacher or Headteacher / Deputy Headteacher know about anything that is causing concern
- not letting them take time off school for minor ailments or holidays during term time
Illness
We encourage parents and carers to send their children to school whenever possible, however if they have sickness or diarrhoea, please keep them at home for 48 hours of being symptom free. If a child is off for 5 days, we would expect them to have seen a doctor and may ask for evidence of an appointment or medicine prescription. Medications can be administered in school to enable children to attend, please come to the school office to arrange this.
If your child is unwell, you must call the school office by 9.00am to notify us of their absence. You must call to report each day of their absence.
If you do not contact the school, you will receive a phone call, as will your contacts to establish the nature of the absence. If there continues to be no contact, a member of staff may carry out a home visit.
We appreciate that there are times when your child won’t be unwell enough to attend school (see Should I Keep My Child Off School? Leaflet below), however everyday coughs, colds and headaches are not a reason for your child to miss valuable learning time. If you do visit your GP, we may ask that you provide a copy of the appointment card or prescription to support your child’s absence.
Lateness
Pupils arriving late to school causes disruption to their learning as well as others. It can be upsetting for them and their classmates. If your child is significantly late (after 9.20am), without a valid reason, they will receive a U code in the register which counts as an absence and may result in a fine. If your child is persistently late you will receive a letter from school.
Holidays
Leave of Absence –Term Time Holidays
We remind all parents that holidays taken during term time will not be authorised and will have impact on your child’s education and attendance.
No Authorisation of Term Time Holidays
The policy of the DFE and the Governing Body is that term time holidays will not be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances. (Cheaper holidays or other family members buying the holidays are not classed as exceptional circumstances)
The Reasons
The reason for this is simple.
- We are passionate about your child’s education and enabling him/her to reach their potential. We cannot achieve this if your child is not at school.
- There are thirteen weeks school holiday each year during which you can take a holiday.
- If taken, the message to your child (and others) is that you, (the parents) value a term time holiday more than you value your child’s education.
Any leave that is taken without the Headteacher’s permission may result in the Local Education Authority issuing a penalty notice per child. If you wish to apply for a leave of absence for your child, please complete a Leave of Absence Request Form and return to the school office at least 7 days before the first day of absence.
Appointments
You are encouraged to make children’s medical appointments outside of school hours, if possible. If this is not possible, we ask that parents provide the school with evidence of appointments (at least 48 hours notice where possible) in order that we can discuss with you.
Attendance Policies & Helpful Information
