Wheatfield Primary School
‘Growing and Learning Together’
Attendance Policy
(Statutory Policy Document)
Issue No 8
July 2015
Learn
Believe
Achieve
Respect
Enjoy
Inspire
Approved by Head Teacher: July 2015
Approved by Governors:
July 2015
Review Date:
July 2018
Wheatfield Primary School
Wheatfield Drive
Bradley Stoke
Bristol BS32 9DB
Tel: 01454 868610
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wheatfieldprimary.com
Attendance Policy
CONTENTS
1
RATIONALE .......................................................................................................................................3
2
AIMS...................................................................................................................................................3
3
GUIDELINES .......................................................................................................................................3
3.1
Statutory framework ...............................................................................................................3
3.2
Leave of Absence During Term Time ..................................................................................4
3.3
Responsibility for Attendance ..............................................................................................4
3.3.1
Pupils ..........................................................................................................................................5
3.3.2
Parents/Carers .........................................................................................................................5
3.3.3
School .......................................................................................................................................5
3.3.4
Governing Body ......................................................................................................................5
4
PROCEDURES ...................................................................................................................................5
4.1
Daily ...........................................................................................................................................5
4.2
Attendance Rewards ............................................................................................................6
5
SUMMARY OF SCHOOL RESPONSE TO ABSENCE ......................................................................6
Issue 8 (Jul 2015)
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Attendance Policy
CHANGE RECORDS SHEET
Issue
No.
Date
1
May 2006
Summary of Change
Original policy document.
Amended by
K Donaldson
2
December 2007 Document reviewed and updated.
K Donaldson
3
September 2008 Document reviewed and updated.
K Donaldson
4
March 2010
Document reviewed and updated.
K Donaldson
5
November 2010 Document reviewed and updated.
L Watkins
6
September 2010 Document reviewed and updated.
C Dursley
7
October 2014
Document reviewed and updated.
C Dursley
8
July 2015
Document reviewed and updated.
C Dursley
SUMMARY
At Wheatfield Primary we aim to promote positive attitudes towards school attendance.
This policy outlines practice and procedures that will promote a strong attendance ethos,
encourage communication and deter absence in ways that will strengthen safeguards for
our children and ensure they are able to achieve their full potential in all areas of their
learning.
The designated Child Protection lead in school is the Head teacher, Ms Christine Dursley. The
WPS Parent Liaison Worker with a specific responsibility for pupil attendance is Mrs Lynne
Watkins. The Governor with link responsibility for attendance is Mrs Sue Davey.
This policy will be reviewed bi-annually.
REFERENCES
Education Act 1996
The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013
South Gloucestershire Education, Learning and Skills Department
DFE ‘Fast track to Attendance Framework’
South Gloucestershire Council Code of Conduct (revised 13.9.2013) Penalty Notices
South Gloucestershire Council Education Welfare Traded Service
Issue 8 (Jul 2015)
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Attendance Policy
MAIN DOCUMENT
1
RATIONALE
Regular and punctual attendance is vitally important in raising achievement and
developing the potential of our pupils
2
AIMS
At Wheatfield Primary School we aim to:
 Promote positive attitudes towards attendance and demonstrate a strong
attendance ethos
 Have a clear policy on expectations around positive school attendance
 Have systems for monitoring attendance which are clear, transparent to
parents/carers and staff
 Use attendance data and other information to improve school and pupil
performance
 Promote the importance and legal requirements of good attendance to pupils
and their parents/carers
 Intervene early when individual pupil absence gives cause for concern
 Reward and celebrate good and improved attendance
3
GUIDELINES
3.1
Statutory framework
‘All children of compulsory school age must receive suitable education whether by
school attendance or otherwise’ Section 7 1996 Education Act
 The school is obliged by law to differentiate between Authorised and
Unauthorised absence from school.
 A letter or telephone call does not in itself authorise an absence. Only if the
school is satisfied as to the validity of the explanation offered in the letter or
message will the absence be authorised.
 Authorised absences – are accepted reasons for absence and these could
include illness, medical appointments, days of religious observance, performing
arts and sporting accreditation and attendance at exceptional close family
occasions, such as weddings and funerals of family members.
Medical
appointments should be arranged, if possible outside the school day. Where this
is not possible, it is expected that pupils are only absent for part of the day and
also show an appointment card as evidence.
 Unauthorised absences – These are mornings or afternoons away from school
when no acceptable reason for absence is given, when a request for leave of
absence has not been agreed in advance by the Head teacher or when leave
of absence exceeds five school days in any one academic year. It is not
appropriate for the school to authorise absences for shopping, theatre visits, day
trips etc. Other than in exceptional circumstances, children who arrive at school
after 9.05am will also be recorded as an unauthorised absence,
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Attendance Policy
As from September 1st 2013 the Government has withdrawn the right for Head
Teachers to grant Holiday Leave during the school year. The new guidelines are very
specific that absence from school may only be granted by the Head Teacher in
“exceptional circumstances.”
Parents/Carers must complete and submit a Request for Leave of Absence form to
the school office two weeks in advance of the date(s) requested
It is acknowledged that this will not always be possible e.g. in the case of a
bereavement/emergency medical treatment. In these circumstances please speak
directly to Mrs Watkins or Mrs Dursley.
3.2
Leave of Absence During Term Time
All requests for leave of absence during term time must be made on the
‘Application for Leave of Absence’ form available on the school website or from the
school office not less than one week before the date for which leave of absence is
requested.
Applications for leave of absence during term time are required for participation in
sporting and performing arts activities, days of religious observance, exceptional
close family events (i.e. weddings and funerals) – the criteria for agreeing authorised
leave of absence apply equally to all reasons for request.
 Parents do not have the automatic right to withdraw pupils from school for sport
and performing arts activities and for exceptional close family events and, in law,
have to apply for permission in advance.
 Requests for all leave of absence must be made to the Head teacher not less
than one week before the date for which leave of absence is requested.
 Applications will only be considered if a child’s attendance is at or above 95% for
the twelve month period preceeding the date on which the application is
considered by the Head teacher.
 No requests for leave of absence will be authorised for children in Year groups 2
and 6 during Terms 4 and 5.
 No requests for leave of absence will be authorised for children in any Year group
during Term 1(other than in very exceptional circumstances), when pupils are
settling into the new school year.
 The amount of leave authorised will not exceed five school days in any one
academic year.
 Only in very exceptional circumstances will the Governing Body consider
authorising leave of absence that has been refused by the Head teacher in
accordance with the criteria outlined in the Attendance Policy.
 If an application for leave of absence is denied and that leave is still taken, the
absence will be recorded as an ‘unauthorised absence’. The Head teacher has
the authority to request the Local Authority to issue a ‘Penalty Notice’.
 The penalty is £60, rising to £120 if paid after 21 days but within 28 days. If you
don’t pay the fine you may be prosecuted.
3.3
Responsibility for Attendance
Improving school attendance at Wheatfield Primary School is the responsibility of the
whole school community.
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Attendance Policy
3.3.1
Pupils
All pupils are expected to attend school regularly and punctually
3.3.2
Parents/Carers
Parents are responsible for ensuring that their child/children attend school regularly
and punctually. It is the responsibility of parents/carers to inform the school as soon
as possible of the reason for the absence of their child and that requests for leave of
absence during term time are minimised where possible.
It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to provide a letter to the Class teacher
explaining the reason for absence when a child returns to school. If a letter is not
received within 7 days then the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
3.3.3
School
Staff will endeavour to encourage good attendance and punctuality through
personal example.
The school will employ a range of strategies to encourage good attendance and
punctuality.
Good and improved attendance will be acknowledged and rewarded.
Staff will respond to all absences and lateness formally and consistently.
School will record individual pupil attendance data and will employ a number of
strategies including percentage attendance figures and attendance for complete
weeks to monitor absence. The Head teacher will respond promptly and
accordingly to any adverse outcomes.
3.3.4
Governing Body
The Governing Body has a legal responsibility to monitor its school’s attendance
data and set a yearly attendance target.
The Curriculum and Achievement Committee will review the outcome of
attendance monitoring three times a year.
4
PROCEDURES
4.1
Daily
 Pupils must arrive in school by 8.55am each morning.
 A child is considered to be late for school when arriving after the 8.55am bell has
sounded.
 Children arriving after 9.00am must enter the school through the main doors and
sign in at the school office.
 Electronic registers (SIMS) are completed by Class teachers by 9.05am each
morning.
 Class registers are legal records and it is essential that they are completed
accurately in the morning and at the beginning of the afternoon.
 If a child arrives after the register has been closed (9.05am and 1.35pm) their
mark is lost for that half session and will be considered an unauthorised absence.
 Parents/carers must inform the school office of the reason for the absence of
their child, either verbally (by phone or in person) or in writing, by 8.45am, on the
first day of absence.
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Attendance Policy
 The Attendance Officer will contact the parent or carer on the first morning of
their child’s absence, where no message has been received and the absence is
considered to be unauthorised.
4.2
Attendance Rewards
 Children achieving attendance of 100 %, at the end of the academic year, will
be recognised in a celebration assembly and awarded by the presentation of an
attendance certificate.
 An ‘Attendance Cup’ will also be presented to the class with the highest overall
attendance each term.
 Attendance awareness and rewards will be discussed at School Council.
 Parents and carers will be kept informed of school expectations and procedures
though information in the school newsletter and the circulation of an
‘Attendance Information’ leaflet.
5
SUMMARY OF SCHOOL RESPONSE TO ABSENCE
 The school will contact the parent/carer on the first morning of a child’s absence
if no explanation for the absence is received.
 If the parent notifies the school of a child’s reason for absence but the child
continues to be absent for 3 days or longer without further explanation, the
school office will contact the parent/carer.
 If a child continues to be absent for 3 days or longer, and communication with
the parent/carer has not been achieved, the Head teacher will write to the
parent/carer and invite them to attend a meeting in school.
 Any absences considered not to be justified will remain unauthorised. The parent
/carer will be invited into school to meet the Head teacher and discuss the
absence(s).
In accordance with the DfEs ‘Fast track to Attendance Framework’ adapted by
South Gloucestershire Education Welfare Service:
If children are identified, by the monitoring of percentage attendance (attendance
of less than 90%) and/or the number of broken weeks (absence of a minimum of 1
session per week for more than 6 weeks per two terms), as having persistent
attendance issues the Head teacher will write to the parents/carers informing them
of the observations and invite them to a formal meeting. The Head teacher or
Attendance Officer will discuss the attendance issue with the parents/carers, offer
support and consider an Action Plan to improve attendance.
If no improvement in attendance or parental cooperation is achieved, the case will
proceed to consultation with South Gloucestershire Council and the Education
Welfare Officer, a Local Authority meeting and possible prosecution if absences
continue to be unauthorised.
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