Attendance

Every day is part of the adventure

Regular attendance is an important part of helping children to learn, build friendships and feel part of our school community.

We know that there may be times when children are unable to attend school or when families experience barriers that make regular attendance more difficult. If you are worried about your child’s attendance, please talk to us as early as possible so that we can work together to understand what is happening and identify the support that may help.

Reporting an Absence

If your child is unable to attend school, please contact the school office before 8:30am on the first day of absence, giving the reason for their absence.

If your child continues to be absent, please keep the school informed. Where we have not received a reason for absence, we will contact you to check that your child is safe and establish the reason for their absence.

Illness and Medical Appointments

If your child is too unwell to attend school, their absence may be authorised as illness.

Where possible, routine medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours. If an appointment must take place during the school day, children should attend school before and/or after the appointment wherever possible.

We may ask for evidence of medical appointments or, where appropriate, further information to help us understand and support a child’s attendance.

Punctuality

Being on time helps children to settle into the school day calmly and ensures that they do not miss important learning.

• Doors open: 8:40am
• School and morning registration begin: 8:45am
• Morning register closes: 9:15am

Children arriving after 8:45am but before the register closes will be recorded as late (L).

Children arriving after 9:15am will be recorded as late after the register has closed (U), unless another appropriate absence code applies. This is recorded as an unauthorised absence for the morning session.

If Your Child Is Struggling to Attend

We recognise that barriers to attendance can be complex and may be linked to a child’s individual needs, wellbeing or family circumstances.

If your child is finding it difficult to attend school regularly, please speak to us. We will listen to you and your child, seek to understand the barriers affecting attendance and work with you to identify appropriate support.

Where attendance becomes a concern, we will work with families to agree actions and support. Where necessary, this may involve other professionals or services.

Leave During Term Time

Parents and carers should avoid taking children out of school during term time.

Leave of absence can only be granted in exceptional circumstances and must be requested in advance. Each request will be considered individually by the Headteacher, taking account of the particular circumstances of the request.

Holidays and leisure trips during term time will not normally be considered exceptional circumstances.

Unauthorised Absence and Penalty Notices

Schools have a legal responsibility to monitor attendance and to address patterns of absence.

The national threshold for considering a penalty notice is 10 sessions of unauthorised absence within a rolling period of 10 school weeks. This may include a combination of unauthorised absence, including unauthorised leave and arriving after the register has closed.

Reaching the national threshold does not automatically mean that a penalty notice will be issued. The circumstances of each case will be considered and, where appropriate, support will be offered to help improve attendance.

Working Together

Good attendance is a partnership between school, children and families. Our priority is to work with families to understand and overcome barriers to attendance wherever possible.

If you have concerns about your child’s attendance or need support, please contact the school office. We would much rather hear from you early so that we can work together to help.

Further Information

Full information about our approach to attendance, including authorised and unauthorised absence, leave during term time and attendance procedures, can be found in our Attendance Policy.

School Office
01827 337465
office@amingtonheath.staffs.sch.uk