Attendance
Mrs Gosling regularly checks the attendance of all our children. If your child is going to be absent from school you are required to inform school by 9.30am on the first day of absence. Please ring 01254 381875 and leave the child's name, class and reason for illness. If a child is not in school, and no information has been received from parents by 9.30am, Mrs Gosling will contact the parents requesting a reason for absence. This not only ensures we keep track of all pupil absences, but ensures we safeguard our children should they leave home and not arrive at school (more relevant for older children who walk to school with friends.)
All parents should aim for their child to have 100% attendance. We appreciate that illness and medical appointments affect attendance, however, holidays taken during term time are not an acceptable reason for absence. Mrs Gosling will refer families to the Attendance Consultant (based within Social Services), if she feels attendance is a real problem and the family is unwilling to work with school to improve the issue.
We are obliged to refer children whose attendance is 85% or below to the Attendance Consultant.
FACTS & FIGURES:
90% ATTENDANCE MEANS MISSING ONE HALF-DAY EVERY WEEK!
THERE ARE ONLY 190 SCHOOL DAYS & GOOD ATTENDANCE MEANS.....
being in school at least 95% of the time
or between 180 and 190 days
EACH YEAR, THAT MEANS 175 DAYS NOT AT SCHOOL FOR SHOPPING AND HOLIDAYS
Punctuality
Our school day starts at 8.50am. Registration is a very important part of our day and we expect all children to be in school ready and prepared for their day at 8.50am
However... We do understand that occasionally people do 'run late' and we will not take any action in these circumstances.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HELP YOUR CHILD GET ORGANISED AND READY FOR SCHOOL - PUNCTUALITY IS IMPORTANT!
Mrs Gosling tracks all late children daily. If children are persistently late, we may refer to the Attendance Consultant based at Social Services. If a child arrives after register closes at 8.50am they receive a late mark. If a child arrives after 9.30am, then an 'Unauthorised Absence' is marked in the register.
Finally...
'Did you know that being 15 minutes late each day is the same as missing two weeks of school?'
Request for Absence During Term
HOLIDAYS IN TERM-TIME
IMPORTANT: Please read carefully the information below.
WARNING: If you take your child on holiday in term time without the prior approval of the school, you may be liable for a £60 Penalty Notice* per parent per child.
As a parent/carer, you can demonstrate your commitment to your child's education by taking your holidays during school holidays.
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THE FACTS |
THE LAW |
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We recognise that it is often expensive to take a holiday during school breaks and that is why some parents may ask for term-time leave for their child. However, it is important that parents carefully consider the implications of taking their child out of school during term time. Research suggests that children who are taken out of school may never catch up on the work they have missed. This may affect test results and can be particularly harmful if the child is working towards their SATS in Year 6. Children who struggle with English or Mathematics may also find it even harder to cope when they return to school, while younger children may find it difficult to renew friendships with their classmates. WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER There are times during a school year when a child may experience particular problems because of term-time leave such as:-
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The law does not say that parents have an automatic right to take their child out of school for holidays during term-time. However, in exceptional circumstances school may authorise, in advance, requests for periods of leave of no more than ten days in total in any year. The request for leave must come from a parent with whom the child normally resides, and must be for the purpose of a family holiday. If a child then stays away from school for more than the authorised period this must be recorded as unauthorised absence and could be quoted in a prosecution for poor attendance. If the child is away form school for a total of four weeks or more, the school may have to take the child off roll unless there is a good reason for the continued absence, such as illness. In these circumstances it is up to the parent to inform the school as once removed from roll, there is no guarantee that the child will regain a place at the school. Advice from the Department for Children, Schools and Families in March 2008 states that schools can only approve absence for family holidays if they consider there are special circumstances. Holiday prices, and the fact that the parents have booked a holiday before checking with the school are not special reasons.
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Other absence from school will be authorised if it is for the following reasons:
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Other absence from school will not be authorised:
Due to statutory testing, school WILL NOT authorise any holidays in term time for children in Yr 2 and Yr 6 prior to and including SATS testing weeks. |
Please contact Mr Noon if you wish to discuss this issue.
The law requires schools to be open to pupils for 190 days each year, and every day is important. Please help them not to miss any of this valuable time.
*Penalty Notice £60 if paid within 21 days, increasing to £120 if unpaid.
If you still wish to proceed with your request, please ask at the school office for an application form.
