Attendance
Regular attendance as defined to be in accordance with the rules prescribed by the school.
Regular attendance is attendance at school on each day the school is open for the pupils unless there is an authorisable reason to be absent; and in accordance with the registration regulation 2006 (amended). Section 444 of the education act 1996. “If a child of compulsory school age who is a registered pupil at a school fails to attend regularly at the school, his/her parent is guilty of an offence.” A pupil’s Unauthorised Absence is an offence for the parent.
As a school we aim to: |
Maintain a maximum attendance for all children with a minimum of unauthorised absence Maintain a low rate of persistent absenteeism Maintain parents’ and pupils’ awareness of the importance of efficient and full time attendanceMaintain punctual time keeping |
Good attendance is important because: |
Statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and poor attendance Regular attenders make better progress, both socially and academically Regular attenders find school routines, school work and friendships easier to cope withRegular attenders find learning more satisfying Regular attenders settle into High School more easily and rewardingly |
As a parent you can help us by: |
·Ensuring your child attends school regularly. (Attendance at school on each day the school is open for the pupils, unless there is an authorisable reason to be absent; only the school can authorise an absence Absence should only happen a) When your child is significantly/symptomatically ill and therefore unfit to attend school. There should be an observable symptom; ’feeling unwell’ is not enough. We may ask for medical verification where illness-absence is frequent, prolonged or where there are absences before or after a school holiday. If your child has a documented medical condition that hinders regular attendance, please let us know. b) If there is an unavoidable/unforeseen reason or circumstance which is causing a difficulty/period of difficulty
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School will: |
The school will express ‘a concern’ either verbally or by letter. If attendance does not improve or explanations for absence are unsatisfactory you may be invited to a meeting. The school will also outline what the attendance expectations are and what actions will follow and we will seek to support you. You may be asked to agree a ‘Parenting Agreement/Contract’. A referral may also be made to the Borough’s School Attendance Service, whose officers visit the school regularly to review and support attendance and punctuality issues. Where attendance concerns persist, the school will escalate the matter to the Borough Court Officer; this includes unauthorised absence due to significant lateness. |