Attendance
Our children's health and well being are at the forefront of our concerns and so we completely understand that some absences cannot be avoided. However, we have a statutory duty to ensure that all children have good attendance at school and, by working in partnership with our families, we can strive to achieve the best for every child.
As a school, we believe that, in order to facilitate the highest standards of education and to secure the best possible outcomes for our children, excellent attendance is essential. Children cannot always reach their full potential if they are regularly absent from school or regularly arrive late. Our school attendance target is 95%. To support our children and families in achieving this target, we will follow a ‘Graduated Response’ to monitoring attendance. Our approach is a framework of interventions, so that we can work together to identify early support where necessary. We will be able to let families know when their child's attendance is slipping, or if they are close to receiving a penalty notice. (new Government framework - see below)
From August 19th 2024, the Government have introduced a new ‘National framework for Penalty Notices’. There are significant changes that parents need to be aware of:
Parents should always apply to the Headteacher for any request for leave in term time by completing a request form available from school. (DfE guidance states schools should not authorise leave retrospectively, so any leave in term time taken without a request being submitted, will be unauthorised absence)’.
In developing and publishing the new national framework, the Government has renewed appeals to parents not to take their children out of school during term time. The DfE Guidance Working Together to Improve School Attendance (Feb 2024) states that: Generally, the DfE does not consider the need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance. Each application for leave in term time will be considered. If the application is not agreed and the absence occurs the dates will be unauthorised. Parents will be notified of any decision in writing.
New Government Framework:
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If your child has 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10 school week rolling period, you may be issued with a Penalty Notice. These 10 sessions may include any unauthorised absence, including leave in term time and do not have to be consecutive.
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Penalty Notices are increasing to £160 from September 2024. This can be reduced to £80 but only for the first Penalty Notice issued, if paid within 21 days – this reduction does not apply to any subsequent Penalty Notice.
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Any 2nd Penalty Notice, to the same parent for the same child, issued within three years of the date of the first Penalty Notice will be charged at a flat rate of £160.
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A third Penalty Notice will not be issued within a three year rolling period, to the same parent for the unauthorised absence of the same child - alternative action or legal measures will be utilised for subsequent offences.
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In some circumstances a ‘Notice to Improve’ may be issued – However, a Notice to Improve will only be used in cases where support is appropriate. They will not be issued in cases of unauthorised leave in term time for holidays, where information for parents is included on schools website or a simple warning by the school that a Penalty Notice could be issued if unauthorised leave in term time is taken will suffice.
At St Mary's, if a child is absent parents/carers must:
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telephone the school as soon as possible, preferably before 9.00am please, stating the reason for absence.
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Please come and talk to us if you are concerned about the amount of time off your child is having.
If a child is absent we will:
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Telephone parents/carers if we have not heard from them on each day of absence.
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Monitor absence and write to parents to inform them that their child's absence rate is increasing, and they may be at risk of a penalty notice.
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Discuss strategies for improvement with parent/carers, before referring the matter to the Educational Welfare Officer (VIPEducation) if appropriate.
LATES
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It is essential that children arrive on time for school as they will be missing vital learning time if they are late.
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We start to work on reading. maths fluency and spellings with the children as soon as the doors open in the morning at 8.45am.
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We monitor late marks in the same way that we monitor attendance.
LATE PROCEDURES
If a child is late parents/carers must:
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telephone the school as soon as possible, stating the reason for being late.
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On arrival at school, parents must register their child at the office, and ensure they have chosen a dinner option for the day. A reason for lateness must be given, the school office will ask parents/carers to clarify if it is not clear.
If a child is regularly late we will:
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Monitor lates and write to parents to inform them of our initial concerns.
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Discuss strategies for improvement, with parent/carers, before referring the matter to Educational Welfare Officer.
We thank parents and carers for their support.