LOUDWATER  COMBINED  SCHOOL

Policy on Attendance

 

Introduction

            We expect all children on roll to attend every day, when the school is in session, as long as they are fit and healthy enough to do so. We do all we can to encourage the children to attend, and to put in place appropriate procedures. We believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is development of positive attitudes towards school. To this end, we strive to make our school a happy and rewarding experience for all children. We will celebrate high levels or improvements in attendance to encourage children to have good attendance levels.  This will be done through weekly certificates for classes who achieve 100% punctuality or the highest level of attendance during a week.  Improvements in attendance will be recognised by half termly certificates.  Children with full attendance each term will receive a certificate.  Full attendance for an academic year will be rewarded by a badge and certificate.

            Under the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 1995, the governing body are responsible for making sure 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. This register will also indicate whether an absence was authorised or unauthorised.

            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 or guardian. For example, if a child has been unwell, the parent writes a note or telephones the school to explain the absence.

·         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, this will not mean it is an authorised absence.

 

            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.

·         Therefore, the absence is unauthorised if a child is away from school without good reason, even with the support of a parent.

            If a child is absent

            When a child is absent unexpectedly, the class teacher will record the absence in the register, and will inform the school office, which will endeavour to contact a parent or carer.

            A note may be sent to the school prior to the day of absence, e.g. if a child has a medical appointment.  If a child is unwell the parent should telephone the school on the morning of the first day of 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 be in contact straight away with the parent or carer, in order to check on the safety of the child.

            Requests for leave of absence

            The Department for Children, Schools and Families has issued statements urging parents not to take their child out of school during term time.  Information which is available shows that if children are absent for more than 7 ½ days it has a significant negative impact on their attainment, particularly in English and Maths.  Holidays during term time cause a significant rise in the absence of children.

The authorisation of holiday in term time is at the discretion of the headteacher.  Most recent advice from Bucks County Council is that holidays should only be taken in exceptional circumstances.  This means that authorised leave of absence is not automatic and every request will be looked at individually by the headteacher and, if necessary, by the Governing Body.  The Governors have decided that requests to take family holidays in term time will not be deemed as exceptional circumstances.

Exceptional Circumstances

 

·         Serious illness of parent, necessitating time away from school for child/ren.

·         Serious illness of close relative necessitating a visit to them which means it is not possible for the children to attend school.

            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 they 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 contact 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 or carer of any child who has an unauthorised absence. If a child has a repeated number of unauthorised absences, the parents or carers will be asked to visit the school and discuss the problem. If the situation does not improve, the school will then contact the Educational Welfare Officer, who will visit the home and seek to ensure that the parents or carers understand the seriousness of the situation.

            The governors, supported by the Educational Welfare Officer, reserve the right to consider taking legal action against any parents or carers who repeatedly fail to accept their responsibility for sending their children to school on a regular basis.

            Lateness

 

            The registers are taken in the classroom at 9.00 a.m.  If a child arrives after this time they need to enter school via the school office and the late book needs to be completed.  They are then marked present in the register.  The register “closes” at 9.30 a.m.  This means that children arriving after this time must be recorded in the register as absent.  We know the child is in school due to the completion of the late book.  This procedure follows the attendance guidance set out by Bucks County Council (September 2008).

 

If a child is late for a valid reason, e.g. illness or a medical appointment, the lateness is an authorised absence.

 

Lateness for other reasons may not be authorised by the headteacher.

 

            Attendance targets

            The school sets attendance targets each year. These are agreed by the headteacher and governors at the annual target-setting meeting. The attendance targets are then agreed with the LA link inspector as well. The targets are challenging yet realistic, and based on attendance figures achieved in previous years. The school considers carefully the attendance figures for other similar schools when setting its own targets.

            Monitoring and review

            It is the responsibility of the governors to monitor overall attendance, and they will request an annual report from the headteacher. The governing body also has the responsibility for this policy, and for seeing that it is carried out. The governors will therefore examine closely the information provided to them, and seek to ensure that our attendance figures are as high as they should be.

            The school will keep accurate attendance records on file for a minimum period of three years.

            The rates of attendance will be reported in the school prospectus.

            Class teachers will be responsible for monitoring attendance in their class, and for following up absences in the appropriate way. If there is concern about a child's absence, they will contact the school office immediately. If there is a longer-term general worry about the attendance of a particular child, this will be reported to the headteacher, who will contact the parents or carers.

            This policy will be reviewed by the governing body annually.

 

 

 

 

Approved by Governors May 2009             

Published for parents May 2009                

Due for review May 2010