Page 17 - Prospectus

Attendance

Regular attendance at school is vital to your child’s progress and success. It is very important that
your child attends school in order for him/her to experience and cover the curriculum that is required.
If a child misses one day every week on average (80% attendance) then this constitutes 1 year and 1
term of time off school during a primary school education. Therefore, when a pupils attendance falls
below 90% we will write to you to ask why this is the case. If attendance is below 90% all absences
must be supported by medical documentation otherwise they will be recorded as unauthorised. If
absence is persistent then the school will contact the Education Investigation Service and they may
issue a fixed penalty notice of up to £120 per child.

A record is made of each child’s attendance and these figures are requested by the Department for
Education and Employment each year. Statistical tables are drawn up measuring each school’s
performance with regard to attendance.

If your child is unable to come to school for any reason, please let us know and we can make the
appropriate record in the register. If no notification is given this is recorded as an unauthorised
absence. Certificates and prizes are given at the end of each year to those children who have achieved
100% attendance.

A breakdown of the last academic year’s attendance figure can be found on the school website.

Punctuality

It is also very important that your child arrives on time for the beginning of the school sessions.
Lateness has to be recorded also. It is very unsettling for a child to arrive after the session has started,
so please ensure that your child is in the playground before the bell is rung.

Being persistent late to drop off or collect your child will also result in referral to the Education
Investigation Services and a fine may be issued accordingly.

Holidays and Leaves of Absence

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Please note that as of 1 September 2013 Schools are no longer allowed to accept holiday request in
term time. Parents have a legal duty to make sure that their child aged 5-16, if registered at a school,
attends that school regularly. Any holiday requests will need to be in writing, via a ‘Leave of Absence
form’. Periods of leave that are refused by the school will be recorded with a ‘G’ code which is an
unauthorised absence. Taking an unauthorised term time holiday could be part of the grounds for
Education Investigation Services issuing a fixed penalty notice.

Leaves of Absence may be granted by the school in exceptional circumstances. If parents/carers know
that a leave of absence is needed then please collect the appropriate form from the school office and
return it asap.