Attendance/Absence Procedures

We aim for an environment which enables and encourages all members of the community to reach out for excellence. For our children to gain the greatest benefit from their education it is vital that they attend regularly and children should be at school, on time, every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable. This school has good records of attendance and our attendance policy sets out additional information about how school and parents can work together to maintain this.

Any absence affects the pattern of a child’s schooling and regular absence will seriously affect their learning. Any pupil’s absence disrupts teaching routines so may affect the learning of others in the same class. Ensuring children’s regular attendance at school is the legal responsibility of parents and permitting absence from school without a good reason creates an offence in law and may result in prosecution. Helping to create a pattern of regular attendance is everybody’s responsibility - parents, pupils and all members of school staff.

Absence Procedures:

If a child is absent the parent must:

•  Contact school as soon as possible on the first day of absence, either by phone or call into school and report to reception

If a child is absent school will:

• Telephone parents as soon as possible after registers close on the first day of absence, unless the absence has already been reported by parents.;
• Invite parents/carers in to discuss the situation with our in-school Attendance Lead and/or Headteacher if absences persist;
• Refer the matter to the Local Authority School Attendance Team where appropriate as per Local Authority protocol.