Attendance
School Policy
January2016
Head Teacher: Mrs Olivia Bates
MISSIONSTATEMENT
We at Totternhoe Lower and Pre-School, strive for excellence in education by providing a safe, secure, caring family environment, where all are valued and respected as individuals, enabling them to reach their full potential, whilst growing in their love and understanding of the Christian Faith.
Totternhoe Lower and Pre-School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and visitors to the school to share this commitment
POLICY STATEMENT
Totternhoe Lower School believes that regular attendance is vital for effective learning. We expect all children to attend on time and every day when the school is in session. Children are at school for 190 days in the year and at home for 175 days. We will not accept that our children will miss out on their education due to absence during term time, providing they are fit and healthy enough to attend. We do all we can to encourage children to attend and we believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is the development of positive attitudes towards school. To this end we strive to make school a happy and rewarding experience for all children. We will reward those children whose attendance is very good. Our school will give a high priority to conveying to parents and pupils the importance of regular and punctual attendance. We recognise the importance of establishing strong home-school links and communication systems that can be utilised whenever there is a concern about attendance.
Under The Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006 and The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 the Governing Body is responsible for making sure that the school keeps an attendance register that records which pupils are present at the start of both the morning and the afternoon sessions of the school day. The register will also indicate whether an absence was authorised or unauthorised.
Principles:
- The school will work to ensure that all children feel supported and valued.
- The school will promote positive staff attitudes to those children returning from absences.
- Staff will be made aware of the registration process.
- Registers will be completed accurately at the beginning of the morning and afternoon sessions and attendance regularly monitored.
- Parents will be encouraged to contact school early on the first day of absence.
- The Head Teacher and school governors will regularly evaluate attendance procedures.
- Procedures will allow returning absentees to catch up on missed work without disrupting the learning of other children in the class.
Consultation will take place with all members of the school community and the Education Welfare Officer to develop and maintain the whole school attendance policy.
Definitions
Authorised absence
An absence is classified as authorised when a child has been away from school for a legitimate reason and the school has received notification from a parent/guardian either in writing or by telephone. Only the school can make an absence authorised. Parents do not have this authority. Consequently not all absences supported by parents will be classified as authorised. For example, if a parent takes a child out of school to go shopping during school hours or has a meeting and cannot utilise breakfast/ afterschool club for some reason, these will not be classified as authorised.
Unauthorised absence
An absence is classified as unauthorised when a child is away from school without the permission of both the school and a parent.
The absence is unauthorised if a child is away from school without good reason, even with the support of a parent.
Unauthorised absence will be reported to the School Attendance Officer and penalty notices may be issued.
Procedures for absences
When a child is absent the class teacher will record the absence in the register.
Where the reason for absence is known by the school the correct code will be entered above the absence mark.
Where the reason is unknown, the school will endeavour to contact the parent/carer to explain the absence.
If there is any doubt about the whereabouts of a child, the class teacher should take immediate action by notifying the school office. The school will then take appropriate measures in order to check on the safety of the child.
Registration
Registers will be called promptly between 8:45 - 9.00a.m and 1.00pmand will be marked in blue if the child is present. Any other code will be put in place by the front desk, in accordance with the list of symbols as set out on the front desk.
Register will close at 9.10a.m. and1.10.pm. Where children arrive late and the register is still open, they will be marked late but counted as present for the session. Where children miss registration and do not provide an adequate explanation, they will be marked as late but counted as unauthorised absent. Where children miss registration but provide an acceptable explanation, they will be marked as late but counted as authorised absent for that session.
Children who arrive late, after classes have started, should report to the front desk. (Office staff will subsequently amend the register entry to read “absent late”). The parent will be informed if the child is showing as consistently late.
Registers will be inspected for absences and lates, at a minimum every half term, in order to ensure that correct procedures are being followed. Absences will be totalled and analysed for data collection purposes.
Recording Absence
All staff must record absences, either as authorised or unauthorised, using the agreed symbols. Consistent criteria should be applied to decision-making. If staff have reason to doubt the explanation offered about whether a particular absence is genuine, the absence should be recorded as unauthorised. Absences should not be authorised once the Education Officer has issued a warning letter for court action to parents, unless a medical certificate is received. Advice should be sought from the Education Officer.
Follow up Absence
If no contact is received from the parent/ carer of the child, the school will contact the parent/ carer by telephone, or if the parent is unavailable, we will write a letter requesting information. If this action does not result in an explanation or the return of the child to school, the matter will be referred to the Education Officer, if the absence continues after ten school days without explanation from the parent.
Action on irregular attendance will initially involve the Head Teacher contacting the parent to discuss the matter. If the attendance does not improve, the Head Teacher will invite the parent to a meeting. The aim of the meeting will be to identify and resolve any difficulties, which are preventing the child from attending school. The parents will be made aware of the legal requirements regarding school attendance.
If the child’s difficulties are not resolved and the attendance does not improve, a formal referral will be made to the Education Officer and formal intervention planned.
Requests for leave of absence
We believe that children need to be in school for all sessions, so that they can make the best progress possible. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, which became law on 1stSeptember 2013, state that Headteacher may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.Parents may request leave of absence for exceptional circumstances and each request will be considered on an individual basis. Exceptional circumstances do NOT include:
- Availability of cheap flights and/or holidays
- Availability of desired accommodation
- Parent/carer work commitments
- Poor weather experienced during school holiday periods
- Overlap with the beginning or end of term or half term
Exceptional circumstances MAY include:
- Service personnel returning from a tour of duty abroad where it is evidenced the individual will not be in receipt of any leave in the near future that coincides with school holidays.
- Where an absence from school is recommended by a health professional as part of a parent or child’s rehabilitation from a medical or emotional issue.
- The death or terminal illness of a person close to the family.
- To attend a one-off, never to be repeated occasion that can only happen at that time e.g. family wedding or funeral.
Evidence will be required to support any request for leave of absence.
The granting of leave of absence is at the discretion of the Headteacher who may consult the School Attendance Officer for advice and it must not be assumed that it will be granted.
Long-term absence
When children have an illness that means they will be away from school for over five days, the school will do all it can to send material home, so that children can keep up with their school work.
If the absence is likely to continue for an extended period, or be a repetitive absence, the school will work with the support services so that arrangements can be made for the child to be given some tuition outside school.
Repeated unauthorised absences
The school will contact the parent/carer of any child who has an unauthorised absence. If a child has a repeated number of unauthorised absences, the parent/carer will be invited to visit the school to discuss the problem. If the situation does not improve, the school will contact the School Attendance Officer and make a referral.
The Governors, supported by the LA, reserve the right to consider taking legal action against any parent/carer who repeatedly fails to accept their responsibility for sending their child to school on a regular basis. A penalty notice will issued if 10 or more unauthorised absences occur.
Persistent Absentees
When a child’s attendance level is 90% or lower s/he will fall into the category of a persistent absentee. In this case we will take advice from the School Attendance Officer at the Local Authority. Measures to reduce the level of absence will be discussed with the parents and we will work with them to try to improve their child’s attendance. The number of pupils who are persistent absentees is reported to the DfE in the school census figures each term.
Children missing in education (CME)
Totternhoe Lower School has adopted and strictly follows the procedures for CME laid down by the LA. The link to the PDF can be found in Appendix 1.
Rights and Responsibilities
Attendance at Totternhoe Lower School is the responsibility of everyone in the school community; children, parents, carers and all the school staff.
Children are expected to attend school and lessons regularly and punctually. Children who do experience difficulties will be offered prompt and sympathetic support.
Parents are responsible for ensuring their child attends school regularly and punctually, properly dressed and in a fit condition to learn. If a child is prevented for any reason from attending, or is late, parents are required to notify the school of the reason, preferably, on the first day of absence. Parents whose first language is not English or who have literacy problems will be offered support from school in matters of communication.
A child’s absence from school will remain unauthorised until a satisfactory explanation is received from the parent. Parents will be promptly informed of any concerns over their child’s attendance. Parents should not take family holidays during the school term time.
School staff will encourage good attendance and punctuality through personal example. Staff should convey high expectations to children regarding attendance and punctuality. A range of strategies will be used to encourage good attendance and punctuality and staff will promptly investigate all absenteeism, liaising closely with parents. Staff will respond to all absenteeism firmly and consistently.
Rewards for good attendance
Children who have at least 97% or higher attendance in a half term will receive a certificate for attendance, awarded in Assembly. Children who have 100% attendance in a term will receive a special certificate and a badge. Children who have 100% attendance, or no more than 1 day’s absence for medical reasons, for the whole school year will receive a certificate of excellence and a prize for attendance. Children that receive 100% attendance in a term will also be invited to an attendance tea party.
Attendance targets
The school sets attendance targets each year. The targets are challenging but realistic, and are based on attendance levels achieved in previous years.
Monitoring and review
It is the responsibility of the Governors to monitor overall attendance, and the Headteacher will report attendance levels and any issues at the meeting of the Governing Body each term. The Governing Body also has the responsibility for this policy and for seeing that it is carried out. The Governors will examine the information provided and seek to ensure that our attendance figures are as high as possible.
The school will keep accurate records on file for a minimum of three years.
The attendance rates will be reported in the school prospectus and in the newsletters that are sent home regularly and posted on the school website.
Class teachers will be responsible for monitoring attendance in their class. If there is concern about a child’s absence, they should notify the Headteacher.
APPENDIX 1
CME CBC procedures
1