Absence
If your child is absent for any reason, please ensure you contact the school office by 9.15am on the morning of the absence. We must record a reason for each day's absence. If your child is off for a number of days, please ensure you ring each morning.
If we have had no communication from yourself by 9.30am, school will contact you to ascertain the reason for the absence. Please ensure any missed calls are returned promptly. Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
Absence Monitoring
We appreciate children become poorly throughout the school year. Occasional periods of absence are understandable. If your child has a longer term condition, please liaise with the SENCO/Head Teacher to ensure the necessary arrangements have been put in place to support your child.
In line with DFE guidelines, unexplained persistent absences must be followed up and investigated. We work closely with an external attendance officer who monitors, on a regular basis, the school's attendance figures. You will receive correspondence from the attendance officer if your child's attendance falls below 90%, which is considered as "persistently absent".
Absence Requests
Parents are reminded that term time absence will not be authorised. Exceptional circumstances will be considered at the Headteacher's discretion. If you require an absence during term time, please put this in writing to the Head Teacher. The Local Authority can fine for term time holidays.
Arriving Late to School
Children are required to be in school at the required time. The register is taken promptly. The school day begins with teaching and learning beginning as soon as the doors open. Many interventions are timetabled for first thing in the morning, so it is important that your child is on time.
Any child arriving after the gates close will need to access their class by the main reception. The late time of arrival will be logged on your child's attendance record. Incidents of lateness are monitored by the attendance officer on a regular basis, and correspondence will be issued to those parents of children who are persistently late. If you are aware your child will arrive late on any given day, please inform the office and we can record the reason. Please be aware that persistent late arrivals may incur a penalty notice issued by the local authority.
Impact of Poor Attendance
Regular attendance at school is important for both current achievement and future academic success.
Recent statistics have shown the chances of getting 5 GCSE passes at Grade C or above are:
Attendance Range
95% - 100% = 69.4%
90% - 95% = 51.2%
85% - 90% = 28%
Please ensure your child regularly attends school. Minor ailments or illnesses do not often warrant time off and can be managed in school with the assistance of staff.
Please contact the school office to discuss any medical matters that can impact on your child's daily attendance.