Why is attendance important?
Every day of education and indeed every lesson matters. In the National Curriculum where there is built in progression, children who are persistently late or absent soon get behind with learning and then do not understand current lessons when they return.
The introduction to a lesson and to the school day is crucial to the child’s understanding of their own learning. Children who miss school frequently will undoubtedly have gaps in their learning which will impede their progress and future ability to engage in lessons. This in turn has a knock on effect for their ability to concentrate and for their behaviour.
Frequent absence has a profound and cumulative effect on achievement.
Leave in term Time
The Academy does not authorise absence in term time for a holiday. If a parent/carer takes a pupil out of school in term time for a holiday they may be liable to a fixed penalty notice. Fixed penalty notices are issued to each parent/carer for each child. 17 fixed penalty notices for leave in term time have been issued to parents/carers since September 2022.
Persistent Absenteeism
The Academy offers early intervention and support to prevent absence becoming a cause for concern. If after all efforts, attendance remains a concern, a referral is made to the Education Legal Intervention Team. 10 fixed penalty notices for persistent absence have been issued to parents/carers since September 2022.
Reporting absence
Parents and carers are asked to contact the academy office by phone or in person if their child needs to be absent from the academy.
Authorised absences
Acceptable reasons include sickness, hospital appointments, dentist appointments, recognised religious holidays (1 day per holiday only) and funerals. Medical appointments should be arranged outside of the academy day, if possible. Where this is not possible, we would expect pupils to miss only part of the day.
Unauthorised absences
Unacceptable reasons include shopping, going to an appointment, visiting relatives, buying shoes, going for a haircut, parent/carer unwell and taking holiday, for example by acquiring cheaper flights outside of academy holidays.
Holidays/Trips
The academy supports the view that every lesson counts and discourages parents/carers from taking holidays during term time.