Attendance

We would be grateful for your co-operation in ensuring punctuality and good attendance. If your child has reason to be absent, a phone call to the school secretary is necessary on the first day of absence.

A note from a parent or guardian should be given to the class teacher on or before the child’s return to school to ensure the school is aware of the reason for absence.

 

Lateness and unauthorised absence are always recorded and included in your child’s annual report.

Attendance readouts will be sent half termly to all parents. If your child’s attendance falls below 90% this will be discussed with the Education Welfare Officer.

The Educational Welfare Officer is contacted if punctuality and attendance cause serious concern.

 

Holidays During Term Time:

HOLIDAYS DURING TERM TIME – UPDATED INFORMATION

There have been some changes made to the regulations around holidays being taken in term time.  This letter explains these changes.

Term-time holiday

Currently government regulations allow Headteachers to grant leave of absence for the purpose of a family holiday during term time in “special circumstances” of up to 10 days leave per year.  Headteachers can also grant extended leave for more than 10 days in “exceptional circumstances”.

From September 2013 amendments to The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 removes reference to family holidays and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of 10 school days.

The amendments make it clear that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence in term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.  Headteachers should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted.

 

In order to ensure we meet our legal responsibilities, we must make every effort to make it clear to parents and carers that children and young people must attend school on a regular basis.  Any time away from school can have a significant impact on educational attainment.

 

We must be able to evidence that we have done all we can to ensure the law is upheld.  In law, parents and carers are committing an offence if they fail to ensure regular and punctual attendance at school.  Therefore any unauthorised absence, such as taking holiday in term time, can result in a Fixed Term Penalty Notice.  Failure to pay a Fixed Term Penalty Notice may result in a criminal conviction and a fine in the Magistrates Court for up to £1000.

 

Our school will therefore no longer be able to authorise absence from learning (Holiday Requests) during term time.