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Holiday and Attendance

Attendance and punctuality are vital if your child is to make the best progress in his / her academic, social and emotional development.

Ofsted suggest that their research demonstrates that there is a direct correlation between a child’s progress and the time he / she attends school:

Above 95.7% Attendance – High progress

This equates to 8 days absence in one school year.

94.9% – 95.6% Attendance – Above Average progress. (9.5 days absence)

94.1% – 94.8% Attendance – Average progress. (10.5 days absence)

Below 94% Attendance – Unsatisfactory / Slow progress.

This equates to 11.5 days absence in one school year.

We are required to record absences and submit data to the Local Authority. The DfE instruct that the LA become involved earlier with families if Attendance reaches 85%, which is classed as ‘Persistent Absenteeism’.

If your child is absent please try to inform the school as soon as possible. You will receive a phone call from school usually before 10am if your child is absent and we have not heard from home. Written notification is required if a child is to be taken out of school during school hours and the child must be collected from the Main Office.  Children are not allowed out of school during school hours without an adult. Any child who is late for school should report to the office for registration in our late book.

Families are encouraged NOT to take holidays during term time. The School adheres to the LA Guidelines which states that absence from school should not be authorised unless:

• • A Parent has Armed Forces Leave
• • A Parent brings a letter from their employer to state that the dates requested are the only dates available
• • There is a family event such as a wedding or bereavement

Parent / Carers must fill in a Holiday form, obtainable from the school office as far in advance as possible. The Head Teacher will consider the request and make a decision within the Guidelines. Consideration may also be given to the child’s previous absence records and a decision will be made as to whether the absence is recorded as authorised or unauthorised.

If a child is off school but may be able to carry out work, tasks are available on the school website or online using Education City. In addition, your child’s class teacher can provide activities based on the present learning of the class, to avoid a child falling behind in their learning.

Table of Absences 2010 / 2011

Total Attendance 2010/11 94%

The percentage of half day (sessions) missed through

Authorised absence 5.3%

The percentage of half day (sessions) missed through

Unauthorised absence 0.7%