Ensure Excellent Attendance
Attendance
It is really important your child attends ON TIME and EVERY DAY.
When children attend on time and every day they are happier in school, they keep up with their learning, they start the day well and we can give them the time and support they need.
When children are absent they miss learning, this makes them fall further and further behind. We can see this from the pandemic. It also makes them feel more anxious and impacts on their positive mental health.
When children are late into class they do not know what to do in lessons, miss out on what other children have learned, often in subjects needed for life and work, like reading and mathematics.
Leave of absence may only be granted by the school only in exceptional circumstances. Parents/carers are requested therefore not to arrange leave of absence (family holidays) during term time. See the Term Dates page under Communications tab for our Holiday List.
If your child is unwell you should contact school to explain the reason. Where there is no contact from parents to explain an absence, the attendance team will record an unauthorised absence. All absences from school must be explained by a note or phone call from parents and as much notice given as possible. We will follow up on all unexplained absences and also those explanations that are not sufficiently prioritising children's education.
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Attendance FAQ sheet available from the school office responds to the following questions:
What can I do to help my child achieve good attendance?
Can I take my child out of school for a Family Holiday ?
Why is it important to have up to date phone numbers?
My child appears worries/anxious about attending school what should I do ?
My child is too unwell to attend school today what should I do ?
Can my child be absent from school for medical appointments?
Will legal action be taken if my child is absent from school.
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Attendance Team
Three staff support the Executive Headteacher and Head of School in securing good attendance:
Mrs Leigh - Attendance Admin
Mrs Moore - Pastoral and Families Manager (case management of attendance)
Miss Fleming - Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion (Wellbeing & Safeguarding incl. Attendance)
Additional docments that can be obtained from the school and this website include:
- Attendance Policy
- Attendance Leaflet, provided at termly parents evenings
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To help you improve your child's attendance we:
- Report your child’s attendance in the Termly Report
- Have a robust text and phone first day response to ensure your child is safe
- Involve our Wellbeing and Safeguarding Team to support you if needed (as it is a safeguarding issue)
- Involve the local authority and commence fast track prosecution if needed (as the government has brought in new expectations for parents and LA)
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Government Requirements
Here is the link to Summary Table of Responsibilities document that summarises the responsibilities as set out by the govenment for pares, school and local authority.
For all pupils parents are expected to:
- Ensure their child attends every day the school is open except when a statutory reason applies.
- Notify the school as soon as possible when their child has to be unexpectedly absent (e.g. sickness).
- Only request leave of absence in exceptional circumstances and do so in advance.
- Book any medical appointments around the school day where possible.
For pupils at risk of becoming persistently absent parents are expected to:
- Work with the school and local authority to help them understand their child’s barriers to attendance.
- Proactively engage with the support offered to prevent the need for more formal support.
For persistently absent pupils parents are expected to:
- Work with the school and local authority to help them understand their child’s barriers to attendance.
- Proactively engage with the formal support offered – including any parenting contract or voluntary early help plan to prevent the need for legal intervention.
