Attendance Policy
Greenfylde Church of England First school
ATTENDANCE POLICY
This policy should be taken as part of the overall strategy of the school and operated within the context of our vision, aims and values as a Church of England School.
Principles
* Parents of registered pupils have a legal duty under the Education Act 1996 to make sure that children of compulsory school age attend school on a regular and full-time basis. Permitting unauthorised absence from school is obviously detrimental to a child?s education. It is also an offence and in extreme cases, parents may be reported to the Education Authority if problems cannot be resolved by agreement.
* Every half-day absence from school has to be classified by the school (not by the parents) as either authorised or unauthorised. This is why information about the cause of each absence is always required.
* Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from school for a good reason (ie illness or other unavoidable cause).
* Unauthorised absences are those which the school does not consider reasonable and for which no 'leave' has been given. This includes keeping children off school unnecessarily, absences that have not been properly explained, and children who arrive at school too late to receive a mark in the register.
* The school hopes that every child is happy to attend, and is committed to sorting out any problems with the child and the parents. 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.
* Parents are expected to contact school at an early stage and to work with the staff in resolving problems together. This is nearly always successful. If problems cannot be sorted out in this way, the school may, in extreme cases, refer the child to the Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) from the LEA.
* Alternatively, parents or children may wish to contact the EWO themselves to ask for advice. They are independent of the school. Their telephone number is available from the school office or by contacting the LEA.
Procedures
The school applies the following procedures in deciding how to deal with individual absences:
1 Illness and Other Legitimate Reasons
If a pupil is unfit for school, parents are asked, if possible, to contact the school on the first day of absence by 10.00 am. When the pupil returns, he or she must bring a written note, signed by the parent for each period of absence. [A pro-forma absence note is provided to all parents by the school. Additional copies are always available from the office]. Absences will not be authorised without this procedure. In exceptional circumstances, further evidence of a child?s illness, such as a doctor?s note, may be requested. Other reasons for absence must be discussed with the school each time; notes will not necessarily be accepted as providing valid reasons. It is not appropriate for the school to authorise absences for shopping, the child?s birthday, day trips, etc. Leave may, however, be granted in an emergency (e.g. bereavement) or for medical appointments which take place during school time
If a pupil is absent and there is no explanation for the absence on their return (or after a few days in the instance of a longer term absence) the school will telephone or write to the parent seeking the reason for the absence.
2 Holidays
Parents do not have an automatic right to withdraw a child and requests for holiday leave must come from a parent with whom the child normally lives. All holiday leave in term time is at the discretion of the Head teacher and will only be granted if 'special circumstances' can be proved. Such circumstances might apply to Forces personnel on leave from a foreign posting, parents having significant employment restrictions or in light of special/significant family events. All cases will be considered on an individual basis. Provided the request is made in advance in writing (application forms are available from the office) leave for up to ten days per school year may then be granted, provided the child's attendance record is otherwise good. Leave may be refused where attendance is otherwise poor or if the child is likely to miss something important in their educational provision. Requests for leave of over ten days will only be considered in the most exceptional circumstances and on a case by case basis.
If the request for leave is refused and the child is still taken out of school, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. This could, in extreme cases, result in a fixed penalty notice or parental prosecution for the child's non attendance.
3 Lateness
We understand that children may occasionally be late for school. However, persistent lateness is unhelpful to the child and to the staff. We ask parents to do their very best to ensure that pupils attend school punctually every day. The register will be taken at 9.00 every morning. Children arriving after the register is taken, but before 9.30 a.m., will receive an attendance mark. Pupils arriving after 9.30, and with no valid explanation, will receive an unauthorised absence.
Conclusion
Everyone at the school wishes to promote the highest possible levels of attendance and punctuality, this being in the interest of the children?s welfare and education.
This policy will be reviewed from time to time to ensure that it is being effective in doing this.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
This policy should be taken as part of the overall strategy of the school and operated within the context of our vision, aims and values as a Church of England School.
Principles
* Parents of registered pupils have a legal duty under the Education Act 1996 to make sure that children of compulsory school age attend school on a regular and full-time basis. Permitting unauthorised absence from school is obviously detrimental to a child?s education. It is also an offence and in extreme cases, parents may be reported to the Education Authority if problems cannot be resolved by agreement.
* Every half-day absence from school has to be classified by the school (not by the parents) as either authorised or unauthorised. This is why information about the cause of each absence is always required.
* Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from school for a good reason (ie illness or other unavoidable cause).
* Unauthorised absences are those which the school does not consider reasonable and for which no 'leave' has been given. This includes keeping children off school unnecessarily, absences that have not been properly explained, and children who arrive at school too late to receive a mark in the register.
* The school hopes that every child is happy to attend, and is committed to sorting out any problems with the child and the parents. 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.
* Parents are expected to contact school at an early stage and to work with the staff in resolving problems together. This is nearly always successful. If problems cannot be sorted out in this way, the school may, in extreme cases, refer the child to the Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) from the LEA.
* Alternatively, parents or children may wish to contact the EWO themselves to ask for advice. They are independent of the school. Their telephone number is available from the school office or by contacting the LEA.
Procedures
The school applies the following procedures in deciding how to deal with individual absences:
1 Illness and Other Legitimate Reasons
If a pupil is unfit for school, parents are asked, if possible, to contact the school on the first day of absence by 10.00 am. When the pupil returns, he or she must bring a written note, signed by the parent for each period of absence. [A pro-forma absence note is provided to all parents by the school. Additional copies are always available from the office]. Absences will not be authorised without this procedure. In exceptional circumstances, further evidence of a child?s illness, such as a doctor?s note, may be requested. Other reasons for absence must be discussed with the school each time; notes will not necessarily be accepted as providing valid reasons. It is not appropriate for the school to authorise absences for shopping, the child?s birthday, day trips, etc. Leave may, however, be granted in an emergency (e.g. bereavement) or for medical appointments which take place during school time
If a pupil is absent and there is no explanation for the absence on their return (or after a few days in the instance of a longer term absence) the school will telephone or write to the parent seeking the reason for the absence.
2 Holidays
Parents do not have an automatic right to withdraw a child and requests for holiday leave must come from a parent with whom the child normally lives. All holiday leave in term time is at the discretion of the Head teacher and will only be granted if 'special circumstances' can be proved. Such circumstances might apply to Forces personnel on leave from a foreign posting, parents having significant employment restrictions or in light of special/significant family events. All cases will be considered on an individual basis. Provided the request is made in advance in writing (application forms are available from the office) leave for up to ten days per school year may then be granted, provided the child's attendance record is otherwise good. Leave may be refused where attendance is otherwise poor or if the child is likely to miss something important in their educational provision. Requests for leave of over ten days will only be considered in the most exceptional circumstances and on a case by case basis.
If the request for leave is refused and the child is still taken out of school, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. This could, in extreme cases, result in a fixed penalty notice or parental prosecution for the child's non attendance.
3 Lateness
We understand that children may occasionally be late for school. However, persistent lateness is unhelpful to the child and to the staff. We ask parents to do their very best to ensure that pupils attend school punctually every day. The register will be taken at 9.00 every morning. Children arriving after the register is taken, but before 9.30 a.m., will receive an attendance mark. Pupils arriving after 9.30, and with no valid explanation, will receive an unauthorised absence.
Conclusion
Everyone at the school wishes to promote the highest possible levels of attendance and punctuality, this being in the interest of the children?s welfare and education.
This policy will be reviewed from time to time to ensure that it is being effective in doing this.