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Attendance

Your child’s attendance at school is extremely important. The Attendance Officer, Headteacher and Local Authority Education Welfare Officer regularly monitor children’s attendance. If your child’s attendance falls below 95% we will make contact with you to discuss how we can work together to ensure your child comes to school regularly.

 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.

 

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.  

 

SICKNESS

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 will only get 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.

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: 

  

Stage

% of attendance

School Protocols

      1

< 97%

Attendance monitored

      2

< 95%

Attendance letter 1 sent home

      3

< 93%

Attendance letter 2 sent home

      4

< 90%

Headteacher organises meeting with parent/carer, possible attendance contract, Educational Welfare Officer informed.

      5

< 90% no Improvement

Educational Welfare Officer Intervention/possible legal proceedings

 

 

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.