Attendance
The foundation for good attendance is a strong partnership between the school, parents and the child.
It is the expectation of the school that all pupils will achieve at least 97% attendance.
Any child who is absent from school at the morning or afternoon registration period must have their absence recorded as being authorised, unauthorised or as an approved educational activity. Only the Executive Principal or a member of staff acting on their behalf can authorise absence. If there is no known reason for the absence at registration, then the absence will be recorded in the first instance as unauthorised. The coding for any absences will be in accordance with the guidance provided by the Department for Education.
Parents/Carers are expected to:
- ensure their children attend school and arrive on time every day.
- promote a good attitude to learning by ensuring their children attend school in the correct uniform and with the basic equipment required for lessons.
- arrange medical and dental appointments out of school time wherever possible.
- telephone by 8:40.a.m to inform the school on the first day of absence for their child.
- provide a written explanation of absence, including dates of absence as soon as their child returns to school.
- work in partnership with the school and other agencies in the best interests of their child; this includes informing the school about significant influences and changes in the child’s life, which may impact on learning.
Absence from school
First Day Absence
Parents/Guardians inform the school by 8:40.a.m if their child is absent that day. If a pupil is absent and the school have had no contact from home, then the attendance officer will personally call the numbers that are held on the school’s system. Any responses to the calls will then be monitored by the attendance officer who will update the pupil’s registration code.
Second Day Absence
If a child is still absent and there has been no contact from home the attendance officer will personally call the numbers again held for the pupil and notify Lead DSL. A home visit is arranged by the attendance officer and the relevant Achievement Coordinator. If no-one is present at the home a letter is left stating that the family must contact the school immediately.
If there is a serious concern regarding the pupil’s absence a referral is made to Social Services.
Fifth Day Absence
Any pupil who is absent without an explanation for 5 consecutive days will be notified to the Local Authority, by submitting a referral to the Child Missing Education (CME) team. The school will include details of the action that they have taken.
If a child has been absent from school for over 3 school days and school are aware of the reason a wellbeing home visit may be made.
Lateness
Morning registration will take place at the start of school at. 8.40 am for Secondary and 8:50am for Primary. Any pupil arriving after registers close will be marked as having an unauthorised absence (U) unless there is an acceptable explanation i.e. school transport was delayed. In cases for example, where the absence at registration was for attending an early morning medical appointment, the appropriate authorised absence code will be entered.
Pupils arriving after the start of school but before the end of the registration period will be coded as late before registers close (L).
The law treats persistent lateness in the same way as irregular attendance and parents may be prosecuted by the Local Authority.
To contact school please call: 0121 566 6600.