ATTENDANCE POLICY STATEMENT

1. Definitions

For the purpose of this Policy and procedures, the following definitions apply:

Parent – (from Section 576 of the Education Act 1996) includes all natural parents (whether they are married or not), all those who have parental responsibility for a child or young person, and those who have day to day responsibility for a child or young person (i.e., lives with and looks after the child).

Compulsory school age – A child is of compulsory school age from the term commencing on or after their fifth birthday until the last Friday of June in the school year that they reach sixteen and applies to the parents of all children who are registered at any state provided educational setting including academies.

Absence – arrival at school after the register has closed or not attending school for any reason.

Authorised absence – An absence from school that only the Head teacher can authorise where parents have explained that their child is unable to attend school for an agreed and/or exceptional reason, for example:

Their child is too unwell to attend, and the school has granted leave.
Medical or dental appointments which unavoidably fall during school time, for which the school has granted leave.
Attendance at an interview for admission to another educational setting
Religious or cultural observances for which the school has granted leave.
A family emergency.
Parent travelling for occupational purposes accompanied by the child.

When periods of illness are complex, long-term or recurring, the school may request reasonable medical evidence before supporting illness absences. This may take the form of a conversation with the parent, and pupil if appropriate, in order to determine an accurate recoding of the absence; seeking wider evidence including details of prescriptions, medication and evidence of appointments and/or letters from medical professionals.

Unauthorised absence – Any absence that is not agreed and/or where the reason given is not exceptional and which can carry the risk of prosecution under Section 444(1) or 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996, for example:

Parents/carers keeping children off school unnecessarily or without reason.
Truancy before or during the school day.
Absences which have never been properly explained.
Arrival at school after the register has closed.
Shopping, looking after other children or birthdays.
Day trips and holidays in term-time which have not been agreed.
Leaving school for no reason during any school session.

Persistent absenteeism – Missing 10% or more of schooling across the year for any reason. This means that persistent absence is equal to 38 sessions (19 days) absence from school in any one academic year.

2. Introduction

Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 (legislation.gov.uk) states that:

“The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him/her to receive efficient full time education suitable:-

(a) to age, ability, and aptitude and

(b) to any special educational needs he/she may have,

either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.”

This means that it is the legal responsibility of every parent to make sure their child receives that education either by regular attendance at a school or by education otherwise than at a school.

DfE statutory guidance Working together to improve school attendance aimed at schools and local authorities (LA) provides clear evidence linking regular attendance at school to improvements in a child’s attainment, wellbeing, and wider life chances as well as reducing their exposure to extra-familial harms like crime or violence (see p9 footnotes in DfE statutory guidance linked above). Throughout this document reference has been made to the DfE statutory guidance and schools must refer to that guidance for additional detail and information.

The statistics tell us that children who attend school regularly are more likely to:

Build a firm and secure knowledge and understanding across all curriculum subjects.
Ensure they consistently meet and build upon expectations for their age or developmental stage.
Develop good habits and important life skills.
Maintain friendships.
Gain better qualifications.
Have access to a wider range of opportunities when they leave school.

DfE EYFS Statutory framework for group and school-based providers (point 3.11-3.12 refers) requires that all settings with EYFS (nursery) children have an attendance policy that they share with parents and/or carers.

This school understands that improving attendance is everyone’s business; that barriers to accessing education are wide and complex, both within and beyond the school gates; and that they are often specific to individual pupils and families. We recognise that good attendance begins with school being somewhere pupils want to be – a calm, orderly, safe and supporting environment.

Some pupils find it harder than others to attend school so at all stages of improving attendance, we are committed to working in partnership with pupils and parents collaboratively to remove any barriers by building strong and trusting relationships and working together to put the right support in place. This Policy seeks to explain how, and it has due regard for relevant legislation, and statutory and non-statutory guidance. Please click the link above for the full policy details.