Attendance

Attendance:

Children are expected to attend school for the full 190 days of the academic year, unless there is a good reason for absence. We recognise that there are exceptional circumstances that can impact on a child's attendance and we encourage families to keep the school informed in such situations. If you have concerns about your child's attendance please contact your child's class teacher.

Punctuality:

The school day begins at 8.55am when the doors are closed. Any latecomers should report to the main office in the Key Stage 1 department.

Parents/carers should ensure that children arrive on time for school as lateness can interrupt the first lesson of the day and affect pupil progress. Pupils who are consistently late are disrupting not only their own education but also that of others. Where persistent lateness gives cause for concern further action will be taken.

Illness:

If your child is ill please inform the school by telephone every morning they are ill by selecting option 1 on the school number 01625 917210, so we know they are safe at home.

If your child has not arrived at school and we have received no message from you, we will contact you to ascertain your child’s whereabouts.

If your child has suffered from sickness and diarrhoea they should be kept off school for 48 hours after symptoms have cleared. Further details can be found on the Public Health website.

Medical / Dental Appointments:

Appointments should be made outside of school hours. Where this is not possible, evidence of the appointment must be provided to the school office in advance, if available, or upon your child’s return to school.

Holiday Dates:

Details on our term time holidays can be found under the Parents/Carers tab.

Requests for Leave of Absence During Term Time:

The 2013 regulation amendments make clear that head teachers may not grant any leave of absence (holiday) during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. The amendments give parents no entitlement to take their child out of school for a holiday in term time. The head teacher and the Governing Body will determine what the exceptional circumstances are.

TAKING YOUR CHILD OUT OF SCHOOL WITHOUT THE SCHOOL’S AUTHORISATION MAY RESULT IN THE LOCAL AUTHORITY ISSUING A FIXED PENALTY NOTICE TO EACH PARENT/CARER FOR EACH CHILD.

PENALTY NOTICE AND PROSECUTION

Penalty Notices may be issued for

Term time leave: Penalty Notice fines may be issued for term time leave of 5 or more days (10 sessions) in a 10-week period.

10 Sessions of Unauthorised absence in a rolling 10-week period: A Penalty Notices may be considered when there have been 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10-week period.

However, school retain the discretion to request a Penalty Notice before the threshold is met. For example, where parents/carers are deliberately avoiding the national threshold by taking several term time holidays below the threshold.

Per Parent/Per Child

Penalty Notice fines will continue to be issued per parent/carer per child. For example: 3 siblings absent for term time leave, would result in each parent/carer receiving 3 separate fines.

Third Offence

On the third time that an offence is committed within 3 years of the first penalty notice for either a term time leave or irregular attendance a penalty notice will not be issued.

The Local Authority may place the matter before the court. The Magistrates may impose a fine up to £2500.

The case may proceed to Parental Prosecution under the Single Justice Procedure. If found guilty of the offence of ‘Failure to send a child to school’ the Magistrates can impose a fine up to £1000 or legal proceedings under Section444 (1a) can include a fine of up to £2500.