ATTENDANCE
Attendance is promoted within school through weekly class awards and termly individual awards for 100% attendance, improved attendance, and great attendance. Pupils with 100% attendance for the term also have the chance to win £100 worth of vouchers.
* For further information see Attendance Policy & Procedures
ABSENCES
If your child is unable to attend school because of illness, please call the school as soon as possible so we may mark the daily register. If we have not received notification, school will try to contact parents/carers during the morning of the first absence. If we are unable to contact parents/carers or no legitimate reason for absence is provided an unauthorised absence mark will be given and parents/carers may receive a home visit from school staff. If no reason for absence has been provided by the fifth day a referral will be made to the Local Authority Education Welfare Service.
Any children with attendance of less than 93% will be monitored by the Attendance team and may receive a home visit from school staff or an invitation to attend a meeting at the school to explore if the school is able to offer support to improve attendance.
Up to date attendance information is shared as part of pupils termly reports. Live attendance information is available through the Reach More Parents App.
PLANNED OR EXTENDED ABSENCE
If you know that your child or children are going to be absent from school on a particular day or week, please contact the school office as far in advance as possible so any appropriate support can be arranged.
TRAVELLING
If you are going to be travelling for a period of time please contact the school office to confirm registration arrangements.
REQUESTS FOR ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME AND TERM TIME HOLIDAYS
Under current regulations, Headteachers may not grant leave of absence during term time unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’, deemed exceptional by only the Headteacher. Permission from the Headteacher must be sought for all absences that occur during term-time. A ‘request for leave of absence’ form must be completed in advance of the absence (available from the school reception or to download from the school’s website). Only the Headteacher can decide if the absence is to be authorised or unauthorised.
For absences that are due to sporting or other educational activities which have not been organised by school, evidence of the event must accompany the ‘request for leave of absence’ form.
Holidays taken in term time can have a very negative impact on a pupil’s education, as well as school’s attendance statistics and children’s learning. School will require evidence of exceptional circumstances, which should be attached to the ‘request for leave of absence form’ and the decision about what is exceptional will be made by the Headteacher. If the Headteacher decides not to authorise the holiday and intends to refer to the Local Authority for a Penalty Notice should the holiday go ahead, the school will issue a letter to the parent/carer warning of their intention.
It is important that parent/carers carefully consider the implications of taking their child out of school during term time. There are 190 statutory school days in one year. There are 175 days (weekends and school holidays) available to use for holidays which would not have a negative effect on your child’s education.
STAFF TRAINING AND ABSENCE
Every member of staff takes part in training throughout the year. When this happens, or when somebody is absent through ill health, we endeavour to use internal staff cover or supply teachers from a known and reputable company.
All staff involved in cover have completed the necessary safeguarding checks.
