Your child’s attendance at school is extremely important. Good attendance is essential to ensuring children reach their full potential and have the best possible life chances. There is a clear link between regular school attendance and academic achievement. Good attendance also helps children to learn good habits of punctuality and to develop a strong sense of belonging within the school community. Promoting good attendance is a shared responsibility between pupils, parents, and the school.

 

WHY ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Regular attendance helps students to make good progress and enjoy learning.  We consider pupil attendance to be the joint responsibility of parents/carers and the school.  Being at school is a very important part of any young person's life.  It enables them to learn, to make friends and to gain the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for a successful adult life.  School and parents/carers are partners in making this happen.  As parents/carers it is your responsibility to make sure that your child makes the most of this opportunity by ensuring a high level of attendance is maintained.  The school is required by law to record and publish rates of absence to include unauthorised absence.  It is therefore imperative that registers are accurately marked and unexplained absences are investigated. 

Do you know your child’s current attendance and punctuality record?

Do you understand how attendance affects their learning?

Do you talk regularly with your child about coming to school on time?

Do you inform the school promptly if your child is absent?

 

 Absence during term time can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances, such as:

• Genuine illness
• Unavoidable medical/dental appointments (parents are requested to arrange these out of school time if possible)
• Bereavement (close family members)
• Days of religious observance
• Seeing a parent who is on leave from the armed forces
• External examinations (e.g. music exams)

 Absence request forms (S2 form) must be completed and returned to the school office, for approval by the Headteacher, before any planned absence from school.

ILLNESS

If children are absent from school, parents /carers must contact the school office, by calling 01626 353282,  before 9am on the first day of absence and each day until the child returns to school. Mrs Edwards, our school Attendance Officer, closely monitors all absence daily. If no communication is received from parents, Mrs Edwards will phone and/or text parents to check why the pupil is not in school. If we are unable to contact, we may visit the home to do welfare check.

 If your child has been sick or had an upset stomach they must remain off school for 48 hours after the last incident. This helps us to stop the sickness spreading to other pupils.

 

UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE

It is Devon County Council policy to issue penalty notices (fines) for unauthorised holidays within term time and unauthorised absence from school when the circumstances are avoidable (e.g. child too tired after a late night, a birthday treat, visiting friends/relatives).

Devon County Council can give each parent a fine of £80, rising to £160 if not paid within 21 days. From the 2024 to 2025 school year, each parent gets up to 2 fines for the same child in a 3-year period. If you get a second fine in 3 years it will be £160. If you do not pay the fine in 28 days you may be taken to court for keeping your child out of school. If your child is off school 3 or more times within the 3 years you will not be fined but may be taken to court.

• S2 Absence request form

 

PERSISTENT ABSENCE/SUSPICIOUS ABSENCE

If attendance is persistent or suspicious, contact will be made with parents/carers outlining the importance of good attendance and offering support.  Attendance is monitored and if attendance dips below the following thresholds the necessary protocols will be followed: 

  

PUNCTUALITY

Being on time is just as important as attending school.

• 5 minutes late each day = 3 days lost per year

• 15 minutes late each day = 2 weeks lost per year

• 30 minutes late each day = 19 days lost per year

HELPING YOUR CHILD TO BE PUNCTUAL

Evening routines

• Set a consistent bedtime

• Turn off devices early

• Prepare school bags and clothes the night before

Morning routines

• Set alarms with enough time to get ready

• Avoid TV or devices before school

• Encourage breakfast before leaving

Organisation

• Help your child stay organised and prepared for each school day

 

SOME FACTS ABOUT SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

• Keeping children away from school for no good reason is a criminal offence.
• 80% attendance is the same as having a day off every week.
• Young children find it very difficult to get back into their friendship groups after a period of absence.
• The government set 96% as the minimum satisfactory attendance for all pupils—this is still 8 days absence.
• There are 175 non-school days per year to spend time together; go on family visits; go shopping or attend routine appointments like dental check-ups.
• Shopping for new clothes or taking time off school for a birthday are not good enough reasons to keep your child off school.  Absence without good reason cannot be authorised.
• Children who have poor attendance may find it difficult to catch up on the work they have missed.
• There is a strong link between good school attendance and achieving good results.  Children who frequently miss school may fall behind in their work which can affect their future prospects.