School Attendance
This is a successful school and every child plays their part in making it so. We aim for an environment which enables and encourages all pupils to achieve their potential and aspire to excellence.
For our children to gain the greatest benefit from their education it is vital that they attend regularly and every child should be at school, on time, every day the school is open unless they have an unavoidable reason to be absent. Any absence affects the pattern of a child’s schooling and regular absence will seriously affect their learning.
Absence or late arrival also disrupts teaching routines and so may affect the learning of others in the same class.
Government research shows a direct link between attendance and attainment and good attenders also make better progress socially, learn to work with others, and are better prepared for the transition to secondary school and, eventually, higher education, training and employment.
It is very important therefore that you make sure that your child attends regularly and this policy sets out how together we will achieve this.
Our attendance target this year is 96%, but all pupils should strive to achieve 100% attendance if they can.
Absences
Please note that all absences need to be reported to school as soon as possible, before 8.55am on the day of absence.
Ways to report absences:
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School App (PA Connect)
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School absence line 01257 4188862 option 1 – please leave your child’s full name, year group and a reason for absence
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All absences need to be reported daily
Lates
The school day starts at 8:55am for KS2 and 9:00am for EYFS/KS1. ALL students are expected to be in school and in class before 8:55am, doors are open from 8.45am. Three or more lates will result in school contacting parents about their child’s punctuality. Punctuality is always important in all aspects of life.
Medical Appointments
The school would prefer that all appointments were made outside of school hours, however we appreciate that this isn’t always possible.
In order to allow your child to leave school during school hours all appointments need to be submitted using the School App with proof of the appointment (e.g. photo of letter, screenshot of text message) at least the day before.
Where it isn’t possible due to an emergency appointment, proof will need to be supplied upon return from the appointment.
If proof is not supplied the absence will be marked as unauthorised. This is a directive from the Local Authority.
Covid
The Department for Education in conjunction with the Government have given new direction to schools with regards to COVID absence this year. Under the guidance all COVID absences are to be reported as illness and will, therefore, affect your child’s attendance record. They have removed the facility to differentiate between COVID and non-COVID absences.
With this in mind, it may be advisable for all to familiarise themselves with the NHS Guidelines regarding COVID. The links are below:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/
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If your child has a temperature, keep them home until it subsides
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Mild cold symptoms – your child may attend as normal
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COVID testing for the under 18s is not advised unless told to do so by a medical professional.
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If you do choose to test your child, and they are positive and you inform school of this, then the full isolation period will need to be adhered to, i.e 3 days from the day after testing positive. This is because we have a duty of care to all within school staff and students.
Due to all COVID absence being treated the same as illness, the attendance email account has been removed. See below regarding reporting absences.
Leave During Term Time
By law, maintained schools cannot authorise any leave in term time other than in exceptional circumstances. Taking a child out of school in term time will affect their education and progress as much as any other absence. If leave is being requested for a holiday or extended leave abroad, approval should be obtained from the head teacher before making any bookings.
Leave of absence in term time will not be granted unless:
- a request for leave has been made in advance by a parent with whom the pupil normally resides (using the form available on the school website or from the school office), and
- the head teacher considers that leave of absence should be granted due to the exceptional circumstances relating to the request.
Due to the need to evidence exceptional circumstances, parents are advised to provide school with any relevant information regarding their request at the point of application if they believe the circumstances are exceptional.
In considering the request school will also consider other factors such as:
- The timing of the requested leave, eg when a pupil is just starting at school or during assessment periods, such as SATs.
- A pupil’s attendance record already includes unauthorised absence.
- Attendance is already a concern, or could become a concern, as a result of taking leave.
- Other periods of leave which the pupil may have had, either during the current or previous academic year.
Any period of leave taken without the agreement of the school, or in excess of that agreed, will be classed as unauthorised and may attract legal sanctions such as a penalty notice.
