Attendance & Time Keeping

If you have any queries about attendance, please speak to our Children's welfare and attendance officer, Shazye Cosar.

It is essential that in order for your child to make progress at School and do their very best, it is important that they are always in school on time ready to learn.

Lost time breaks routines and children can miss important aspects of their learning. School expects the support of parents and carers in ensuring that children always attend when possible.

Only illness, medical appointments (these should be kept to a minimum and arranged for out of school hours were possible, school also require a copy of the appointment card/letter), religious observance and extreme domestic need are reasons which can be authorised.

We are not able to authorise holidays. Parents/ Carers must inform school on the first and subsequent days of an absence. Unauthorised absences will be followed up by school by our Early Help Team and pastoral officer with the support of the Local Authority, if necessary. Attendance is an important part of our Home-School agreement.

Absence

There will be times when children are unwell or have health related appointments.

School must be told of the reason for these absences, either in writing in the home school book or by phone on the first day of absence. If absence is persistent the Education Welfare Officer will be involved in supporting the family to improve attendance.

Every half day absence from school has to be classified by the school (not by the parents) as either authorised or unauthorised. This is why information about the cause of each absence is always required.

Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from school for a good reason (illness, attendance at clinics/hospital etc or other unavoidable causes).

Unauthorised absences are those which the school does not consider reasonable, and for which no agreement has been made.

Short term absence

There will be times when learners are unwell or have health appointments.

School must be told of the reason for these absences, either in writing or by phone on the first day of absence. Appointments should, where possible, be arranged for out of school hours, school also require a copy of the appointment card/letter. If absence is persistent the Education Welfare Officer will be involved in supporting the family to improve attendance.

Long term absence

School endeavour to support all families and learners to ensure they are able to attend school as often as possible. During long term absences school ask that families remain in contact with them. We will continue to offer as much support as possible, with the aim of ensuring the learner returns to school as soon as they can.

Attendance Clinics

If attendance falls below 85% families can be invited to an attendance clinic at school with the Education Welfare Officer and Attendance Officer.

Parents/carers may wish to contact the EWO themselves to ask for their advice. They are independent of the school. Their telephone number is available from the school, or from the Local Education Authority.

Further information can be found by clicking here