SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Excellent attendance is extremely important in our school. We want children to enjoy coming to school and make the most of all the opportunities presented to them here.
Our target for attendance is at least 97%. This will mean every class aiming to reach this expectation. We monitor attendance each week. Miss Devereux monitors our school attendance and will be one of the member of staff who will contact you should your child’s school attendance raise concern.
ABSENCES
If a child is absent from school the parent must follow these procedures:
- Contact the school on the first day of absence before 9.05 am, when our register closes - via Arbor or 0208 953 2717;
- The school has an answer phone available to leave a message if nobody is available to take your call, or you may call into school personally and speak to the office staff. Please be aware that, if you leave a voicemail to report your child’s absence, you may receive a call from the school so that we may discuss the absence before making a decision as to whether the absence is to be recorded as authorised.
- Contact the school on every further day of absence, again before 9.05 am;
- Ensure that your child returns to school as soon as possible and you provide any medical evidence, if requested, to support the absence. Medical evidence may be requested (where school have reasonable doubt as to the authenticity of the absences) where your child is having multiple periods of absence which are reported as being due to medical reasons.
Click here - HCC Statutory Attendance Support Team Penalty Notice Fines Sept 2024
PERSISTENT ABSENTEEISM
If your child’s attendance is below 90% this is classed as persistent absenteeism and is of major concern to the school and the Local Authority.
If your child’s attendance falls below 90% you will be written to in order to highlight our concerns and offer any support that we can. You may also be invited in to the school to discuss the matter further. We may require medical notes if the attendance shows little improvement and a referral to the Education Welfare Officer may be made.
TERM TIME
- All schools by law must follow the Department for Education’s statutory guidance relating to school attendance. They must use the appropriate national attendance or absence code, and follow the criteria set out within the guidance. The statutory guidance states:
- A leave of absence must not be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances and must be requested in advance.
- A leave of absence must be requested in advance by a parent who the pupil normally lives with
- Schools must judge each application individually, considering the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind each request.
- Where a leave of absence is granted, the school will determine the number of days a pupil can be absent from school.
- A need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation would not constitute an exceptional circumstance.
- A school cannot grant a leave of absence retrospectively. If the parent did not apply in advance, the leave of absence should not be granted.
- Where this guidance refers to a parent, the school and/or local authority will need to decide which adult(s) is most appropriate. Generally, parents include:
- All natural parents, whether they are married or not.
- All those who have parental responsibility.
- Those who have day to day responsibility for the child.
Please note all schools are expected to regularly inform parents about their child’s attendance and absence.
Taking your child out of school during term time could be detrimental to their educational progress. If the absence is not authorised and the leave is taken, schools may refer to the Local Authority for legal action. Please find attached information regarding Helping Parents understand Penalty Notice Fines for School Attendance.
NEW HOLIDAY REQUEST LETTER AND FORM SEPT 2024
Click here - New Application for Leave of Absences during term time Sept 2024
Click here - Penalty Notice Fines for School Attendance are Changing Sept 2024