Attendance and Absences

A telephone call is requested for all absences.   Notes must be forwarded if children are to be excused from games or swimming activities, or for visits to the clinic or hospital.

Any contagious diseases from which a child is suffering must be notified to the school.

Holidays taken in school time is time away from your child’s education.

The school’s attendance policy does not permit holidays in term time and parents run the risk of receiving a fine.

All children should be at school, on time, every day the school is open, unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable. 

All children are sometimes reluctant to attend school. Any problems that arise with attendance are best resolved between the school, the parents and the child. If a child is reluctant to attend, it is never better to cover up their absence or to give in to pressure to excuse them from attending. This gives the impression that attendance does not matter and may make things worse. Permitting absence from school without a good reason is an offence by the parent.

Schools have a duty in law to refer any absence of 10 days or more where they have been unable to make contact with the parent/child or have general concerns about the absence to the Education Welfare Officer/Local Support Team.

Schools are required to take an attendance register twice a day, and this shows whether the pupil is present, engaged in an approved educational activity off-site, or absent. If a pupil of compulsory school age is absent every half-day absence from school has to be classified by the school, as either AUTHORISED or UNAUTHORISED. Only school can authorise the absence, not parents. This is why information about the cause of each absence is always required, preferably in writing.

Parents will no doubt be aware that all schools are now subject to attendance targets and that any absence from school will need to be justified.

Good attendance is highlighted and children are rewarded both termly and annually for 100% attendance.

Attendance

Some families will have received letters of concern around their child's attendance. As part of joining the St Gabriel the Archangel Trust St Mary’s Primary has revised it’s Attendance policy so that there are five stages guiding the level of support that can be offered.

Attendance Intervention Framework

Stage 1 – All Pupils Attendance: 96–100%

At this level St Mary’s will monitor attendance by promoting positive attendance and sharing clear expectations with parents. Also by celebrating good attendance by class on the newsletter and for individual attendance as certificates and prizes. This includes an overwhelming majority of pupils.

Stage 2 – Early Concern Attendance: 93–95%

At this level St Mary’s staff will monitor children’s attendance on a weekly basis and hold informal conversation with parents. Parents will receive an attendance reminder letter and the teacher will seek to encourage the pupil to better attendance.

Stage 3 – Attendance Support Attendance: 90–92%

At this level St Mary’s staff will be concerned that the pupil is becoming persistently absent. A meeting with parents will be arranged and either an Attendance Action Plan or Attendance contract may be agreed. Parents will be offered an Early Help/ Family support assessment if it will help.

Stage 4 – Persistent Absence Intervention Attendance: Below 90%

At this point there is a need for more intensive intervention. A formal attendance clinic meeting will be arranged with parents and a graduated response agreed and implemented. Attendance will be reviewed each month. There may be a referral to the Trust Educational Welfare Officer and Family support services involved to make home visits where necessary.

Stage 5 – Severe Persistent Absence Attendance: Below 50% or long-term absence

If attendance falls below 50% then there will be a Safeguarding-led response and legal intervention will be sought where appropriate. Home visits should also be made by the Designated Safeguarding Lead if there is an unexplained absence or if a pupil has not been seen for more than a few days. If contact still cannot be made then other services will be approached for support.