Note for all Parents/Carers
Government Announces Changes to the Definition of Persistent Absence Changes to Persistent Absence Threshold for 2015-2016
Asyouwillbeawarefromourschoolwebsitenotice,TheDepartmentforEducationhaveannounced that the threshold for Persistent Absence will reduce from 15% to 10% from September 2015.
Thecurrentpersistentabsence(PA)threshold,ofaround15%,meansapupilhastobeabsentfrom schoolforaround28daysormoretomeettheclassification,runningtheriskofpupilswithpotentially troubling absence below this level notbeing systematically identified.
Persistentabsencewillbeassessedonacumulativebasissoapupilcancomeinandoutofthe categorybutinrealterms,achildoryoungpersonwhomisses19ormoredaysoverafullacademic yearwillbeclassedaspersistentlyabsent.Pupilstakingunauthorisedleaveofabsenceearlyintheyearcouldbecategorisedaspersistentlyabsentwellintohalftermfivebuthaveperfectattendancefromtheirreturndateonwards.
Ourparentsplayanessentialroleinsupportingattendanceandimportantnoteshouldbemadeof these changes and how they may impact on your child’sachievement.
Ifover5academicyearsapupilhasattendanceof90%thechildwillmissonehalfofaschoolyear; that’s a lot of lost education.
Thereisaclearlinkbetweenattendanceandattainment;yourchildisalmost5timesmore likelytoachieve5ormoreGCSE’satgradeA*Cifhe/shehasminimalabsencesfromschool compared with pupils who have the poorest attendance rates.
Improvingattendanceandmaintaininggoodattendancesuccessfully,onanindividualandwhole schoolbasisisvitalandwehavedevelopedanearlyinterventionapproachtoscrutiniseattendance data,identifypatternsandestablishaclearstructuretosupportfamiliesforthechallengeahead, before low attendance become a concern.
AsaresultofthehighexpectationsfromSeptember,theminimumlevelofattendanceweexpectis 96%, to ensure your child makes the progress theyneed to make to be successful in the future.
AreminderthatwitheffectfromSeptember2013,thenewlawgivesnoentitlementtoparentsto taketheirchildonholidayintermtime.Familyholidaysshouldbetakeninschoolholidays. Holidaysorotherabsencesduringtermtimewillnotbegrantedunlessthereareexceptional circumstances.Pleaserefertotheschoolwebsiteforfurtherdetail.Inaddition,generaldoctoranddentistappointmentsshouldbemadeoutofschoolhourswhereverpossibletominimisetheimpact onpupilabsence.Schooldoesnotexpectpupilstobeabsentforanylongerthanisabsolutely necessary when they have an appointment.
Allabsencewillbescrutinisedandpatternsofabsenceidentified. Parentswillbemadeaware should their child’s attendance become a cause for concern.
Please ensure absences are minimal and that your child attends school on time every day.