Attendance

Attendance Procedures

 

Parents are legally responsible for ensuring that their child attends school regularly and punctually. Parents are responsible for informing the school at once of the reason for any absence (phone call, email or personal visit). School operates a “First Response System”. If school does not know of any reason for a child’s absence by 10:00am an Attendance Officer will contact parents. In certain circumstances further investigations would take place.

 

Authorised Absence - Only the school can authorise an absence. Absences need to be reported to the school by 9:00am.

 

Unauthorised Absence - Absences are those which the school and the governors do not consider reasonable. This includes;

• Parents/carers keeping children off school unnecessarily e.g. because they had a late night or for non infectious illness or injury that would not affect their ability to learn;
• absences which have never been properly explained;
• children who arrive at school after register close;
• shopping trips;
• looking after other children or children accompanying siblings or parents to medical appointments;
• their own or family birthdays;
• holidays in term time.

 

Punctuality

School gates open at 8:45am for Year 1 - 6 and 8.40am for Reception and gates close at 8.55am. Any child arrivng to school after this time will need to enter via the admin office in which your child will be recorded as late. Parents / Guardians are encouraged to ensure children arrive to school on time every day to avoid lateness and disrupting classrooms. Persistant lateness may require further action to be taken.

 

Illnesses

All illnesses need to be reported to the school by 9:00am for everyday a child is absent unless told otherwise. If we have not received a message from you regarding your childs illness we will make contact to all parents/guardians to obtain a reason why. Vomiting and Diarrhoea requires a child to be off school for 48 hours to allow symtoms to subside. If you have concerns regarding your childs health please consult your GP or NHS 111.

 

Medical, Dental, and Optician Appointments

Parents/Gaurdians are encouraged to make all appointments outside of school hours or at the weekend, however, we understand this is not always possible. In the event of an appointment during school time, the school needs to be notified and medical evidence will need to be provided prior to the appointment date.

 

Requesting Leave of Absence

The law states that the Headteacher can only authorise leave of absence during term time in exceptional circumstances. Parents/Guardians must apply for leave of absence by completing a 'Form for Exceptional Leave' which can be found attached below or alternatively can be collected from the school office. Evidence of any exceptional circumstances must be supplied before the leave dates for the Headteacher to consider. Family holidays during school time will be unauthorised.

 

Fixed Penalty Notice (FPNs)

Taking your child our of school during term time without authorisation from the head of the school may result in the local authorities issuing a fixed penalty notice to both parents of any child/ren who are removed from school.

Penalties for Unauthorised Absence

Timeline	One Child	Two Children
Within 21 Days	£60 per parent	£60 per child = £120 per parent
Within 28 Days	£120 per parent	£120 per child = £240 per parent
After 28 Days	You will be summons to appear before the Magistrates’ Court on the grounds you have failed to secure your child’s regular attendance.	You will be summons to appear before the Magistrates’ Court on the grounds you have failed to secure your children’s regular attendance.

 

Did you know that 90% attendance means missing FOUR WHOLE WEEKS in one school year? That amounts to 100 hours of learning missed that cannot be repeated. Also, if a child is taken out of school for a two week holiday they cannot achieve 96% attendance record.

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