Dear Parents and Carers

Attendance News

Many thanks for the support of the vast majority of parents and carers in the school for ensuring good attendance for our children.  Our attendance figure for the last academic year was 96.13% and so far this year it has gone down to 94.52%.  We are striving to improve this – we want every child to be 100%.  Good attendance is essential for a successful future for your child.  Research shows that some young people who regularly miss school can be drawn into anti-social behaviour or crime.  We want all our children to be happy and achieve, we want them to have a good education so they have choices and opportunities in adult life.

We monitor attendance very carefully so that we can support families.  The Government have defined the ‘persistent absence threshold’ as 90%.  We write and speak to parents on a regular basis if their attendance or punctuality is causing a concern and put in place measures to try to improve this.

Holidays / Leave of absence in term time

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that in September 2013, the Department for Education made amendments to the leave request regulations.  We had to revise our school policy based upon this new government regulation.  In summary, the new legislation states that:

• the current law does not give parents any entitlement to take their children out of school for a holiday during term time;
• any application for leave must only be in ‘exceptional’ circumstances and the Headteacher must be satisfied that the circumstances are ‘exceptional’;
• in ‘exceptional circumstances’ a request for absence must be made in advance to the Headteacher, who will inform you of his/her decision prior to booking the leave;
• if a request for leave is not authorised by the Headteacher and the pupil does not attend school, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised, which then stays on a child’s permanent record.

We are required by law to report unauthorised absences to the Local Authority, who may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice, which means a parent may be fined by the Education Inclusion Service (EIS).  I must also make parents aware that due to equalities legislation, fixed penalty notices will now be issued to all parents who have parental responsibility and whom can be traced.  Please be aware that the proceeds from fixed penalty fines DO NOT go to the school. 

Should parents make the choice to take their child out of school on an unauthorised holiday they should not then declare this as a sickness absence.  We do ring to check, particularly when children inform us of the holiday or when they return from a sickness absence with a suspiciously deep sun tan!  As already stated, it is the Headteacher’s decision whether or not to authorise any absence and the mark given.

Leave of absence during term time is not an entitlement and will not be granted for the sole purpose of a family holiday.  Leave of absence during term time interrupts continuity of teaching and learning and can disrupt the educational progress of individual children, creating disruption in schools.  Promoting regular school attendance is a key component in the Government’s strategy to raise educational standards. In order for children to reach their full potential and access the learning opportunities available to them, children must attend school regularly.  As a parent or carer you are required by law to ensure that your child attends school regularly.

Absence for illness

We would ask that parents and carers do not arrange for medical and dental appointments in school time wherever possible.  When this is unavoidable, then your child should return to school or come to school first before being collected for the appointment.  Please be aware that the school register is taken twice a day, so your child will receive an attendance mark in the morning and the afternoon.

If your child is ill, you must phone the school each day they are absent.  Messages can be left on the phone system if there is no-one in the office to take your call.  Minor ailments, such as a headache or slight cold, are not acceptable reasons for failing to attend school.  Repeated absences may require the school to request that you obtain medical evidence from your doctor’s surgery or local pharmacy as recommended by the Government.

Punctuality

The school day starts at 9am, so your children should be in the school playground before this.  We open the doors at 8.50am to let the children in to school.  If your child arrives after 9am, they must go through the main office and sign in, as they will have missed registration in their class.  The school and EIS monitor this closely and will contact families if this occurs frequently.  If your child is late they are missing out on valuable school time and settling in time.  We start teaching immediately, they may also miss things like interventions and marking review time.

If you have any questions about the school attendance procedures, please do not hesitate to contact the school.  Please accept my thanks for your full support in attendance and punctuality matters.

Best wishes

Anna Cvijetic

Headteacher