Attendance Expectations
As a school, we aspire to high standards of attendance from all pupils and parents/carers. We strive to build a culture where all can and want to be in school and be ready to learn. We expect, at least, 97% attendance for all our pupils. The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education. It is the legal responsibility of every parent/carer to make sure that their child receives that education.
Good attendance is a learnt behaviour, so it is important to develop good patterns of attendance from the outset.
The Department for Education expects schools to monitor and analyse weekly attendance patterns and trends in order to intervene and support where attendance does not meet the required level.
Daily: Our school day starts at 8:45am. If your child has not arrived at school and there is no reason provided for the absence, then you will receive a call from our attendance officer. If the absence continues without explanation, following our safeguarding guidelines, further contact will be made in the form of a ‘Safe and Well’ check at your home address. If no reason can be provided for your child’s absence, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. Unauthorised absences may lead to enforcement action by the local authority’s Education Welfare Officer.
Weekly: As a school, we systematically analyse school attendance data to identify pupils that may need support. Where we begin to have concerns about a child’s attendance, we will initiate school-led support in the first instance. When a pattern of poor attendance is spotted, school will agree how all partners can work together to resolve them. Good attendance is essential for children to achieve well academically and for their wider wellbeing. You are invited to discuss any possible barriers and the school will make an offer of support. Hopefully this will positively impact attendance and no further interventions will be needed.
If school-led support is not working, or parents and carers are not engaging, a referral will be completed to the Local Authority Educational Welfare Officer who will implement an Attendance Action Plan which they will monitor alongside school to improve the child’s attendance. If no improvement is seen, legal action, by the Local Authority may be taken at this stage.
Important notes: For any leave of absence, parents/carers are required to complete a request form, available from the School Office. School can only grant a leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. Any unauthorised absences will be referred to the Local Authority Educational Welfare Officer.
