Attendance Matters

As we continue to recover from the disruption to children’s education caused by the pandemic, it is now more important than ever that children’s attendance is good or better.  Every second in school counts, as missing school, whether by being late or taking unnecessary days off, creates more new learning gaps which need to be addressed.  The best way you can support your child to recover from the lost school time of recent years is to ensure they are in school and ready to learn every day. 

We want every child's attendance to be good or better.  This means 96%+. 

Please do not take your child out of school during term time as it disrupts your child’s learning and you risk financial penalties. Any term-time leave of absence must be applied for more than 2 weeks before the date of leave and can only be authorised by the Headteacher in the case of EXCEPTIONAL circumstances.  Please could we urge parents to book holidays during the 13 weeks of annual school holidays which are available each year.   

 

Holidays during term time

If leave has not been authorised and your child is out of school, then you may receive a minimum fine of £80 per child, per parent.  If the time out of school makes your child’s attendance drop below 90% then they are known as persistently absent under the government's attendance definitions.  This means that you may face prosecution through the courts.  

Please help us to help your child catch up by ensuring they are in school and ready to learn every day.

 

Reporting Absences:

To report your child’s absence, we kindly request that parents contact the school before 7:30 am on the first day and every day of absence. This allows us to accurately record and monitor attendance. To report an absence, please call the school office and choose the option to report a child absent. 0191 265 6906 select Option 1 to leave an absence voicemail for our school Attendance Officer, Mr Dent.

Parents should:

• Only keep their children off school if necessary.  Making this decision can be difficult at times, The NHS Little Orange Book gives expert advice on childhood illnesses and when to keep children at home.  School staff are always happy to help with advice too, if you are unsure.  
• Telephone 0191 2656906 on the first morning of all absences by 7.30am, stating the reason for absence and sharing medical appointments/evidence.
• Arrange dental and doctor’s appointments outside of school hours, or during school holidays wherever possible.
• Keep us updated daily by telephone, letter or email if your child has an extended period of absence due to illness.
• Discuss with the school office/class teacher any planned absences well in advance and only request leave of absence if it is for an exceptional circumstance by completing the Leave of Absence form, available from the school office.

You can view the NHS website for medical Guidance by clicking here

 

Our Attendance Policy:

Our Attendance Policy is designed to ensure that all children attend school regularly and punctually. We have set a minimum attendance target of 96% for all our pupils. This means that we expect every child to attend school for at least 96% of the academic year.

Intervention and Support:

If a child’s attendance falls below 96%, we will implement our first layer of intervention. This may involve working closely with parents and carers to understand and address any barriers to regular attendance. We believe in a supportive approach and will work collaboratively to find solutions that help children attend school regularly.

Supportive Approach:

As a supportive school, we are committed to working closely with parents, carers, and the wider community to promote regular attendance. We understand that there may be genuine reasons for occasional absences, and we encourage open communication between parents and the school. Our dedicated staff members are here to listen, support, and provide guidance to ensure that every child has the opportunity to attend school regularly.

Parent’s Booklet:

We have also prepared a comprehensive booklet for parents that provides detailed information about our Attendance Policy and offers practical tips and advice on promoting regular attendance. You can access the booklet by clicking on the link below.

Parent's Booklet

We encourage parents, carers, and the wider community to actively support our efforts in promoting regular attendance. Together, we can help every child achieve their full potential and lay a strong foundation for their future success.

If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to support you and your child every step of the way.

Remember, every day counts! Let’s work together to ensure that every child attends school regularly and enjoys a fulfilling educational journey.