Attendance
One of the most important roles we have as a school is to ensure your child has the skills and qualifications to become a successful adult. Poor attendance is a key factor on school grades and subsequent life chances moving forward.
Parents’ responsibilities to ensure regular school attendance
Parents and carers have a legal duty to ensure that their children of compulsory school age (age 5 – 16) receive a suitable full-time education. It is also important that parents encourage their child's regular and punctual attendance at school. It is important that everyone works together to help children obtain the best possible start in life with a good education. Parents should work in partnership with the school, notifying the school of the reason for any of their child’s absences and highlighting any areas of concern they may have as soon as possible, so they can be addressed quickly.
Research shows that when pupils do not attend school regularly (95% and above) this has a negative impact on a pupil’s academic performance. Absence from school can lead to a pupil falling behind in their work and losing their motivation. It can also make them feel less confident and affect friendship groups.
It is advised that pupils with minor ailments can - and should – attend school
Coughs, colds, sore throat, headaches or stomach aches should not prevent your child from attending school. In line with government advice, we will not routinely authorise absences due to minor ailments and encourage you to ensure your child attends school regardless.
Pleased see link to the NHS website page 'Is my child too ill for school' (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/)
If possible, appointments (including medical, dental, optician) should be booked outside of the school day. Where this cannot be arranged, we ask that the student is out of school for the minimum possible time.
The school day runs from 8:20am-3pm.
If your child is going to be absent please contact:
Telephone number: 01702 354 441
Email: [email protected]
The school is working with an external company Aquinas to help improve attendance and ensure the safeguarding of students. Please see attached letter introducing Aquinas.
Attachment introducing Aquinas letter
The school work in line with Southend-on-Sea Borough Councils term time leave Policy, and therefore no leave will be authorised during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Penalty Notices
Penalty Notices are issued by the Local Authority upon request of the school. The Education Welfare Officer is duty bound to refer any cases where: Any leave taken during term time for holidays or whereby no notification to the school has been made, where the level of absence from school has become a high-level concern and or despite school interventions of the schools Attendance Process has had no impact on improving attendance.
Penalty Notices are issued for:
- unauthorised absence
- holidays in term time without permission
- excluded pupils found in a public place during the first 5 days of suspension or exclusion
Cost of the Notice:
- £60 per child, per parent, if paid within 21 days
- rising to £120 per child, per parent if paid within 28 days
- you could be prosecuted if you do not pay the fine after 28 days
Form attached for requesting leave in exceptional circumstances