We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that all of our students have the best possible attendance at school. A high level of attendance is essential for students to reach their full educational achievement, future aspirations, and to assist their social development.

Any absence from school means that a learner is missing vital education; research shows that this has a negative impact on attainment.

Parents, carers and school staff share the responsibility for ensuring that the law is upheld, by supporting and promoting excellent school attendance and punctuality for all.

This principles outlined in this policy are applicable for learners in all year groups at North Leamington School.

 

• A request that parents telephone (01926 338711) or email attendance@northleamington.co.uk before 8.30am on each day of any absence, with the reason for absence and if possible how long the absence is likely to last
• Parents/carers must contact the school on each day of their child’s absence
• The school uses Groupcall communication system for student absence. The system will contact parents directly if a student is marked absent at registration and school has not been informed of a reason for the absence

Please see below for some FAQs on student attendance 

Attendance and Punctuality: Frequently Asked Questions for Parents and Carers

This document has been produced alongside our Attendance and Punctuality Policy which can be found here.

What is the school’s expectation for students’ attendance?

We believe that students should be in school for at least 96% of the school year. We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that all of our students have the best possible attendance at school. A high level of attendance is essential for students to reach their full educational achievement, future aspirations, and to assist their social development.

What do I do if my child is ill and cannot attend school?

• We request that parents telephone (01926 338711) or email (attendance@northleamington.co.uk) the school before 8.30am on each day of any absence, with the reason for absence and if possible how long the absence is likely to last
• Parents/carers must contact the school on each day of their child’s absence
• The school uses Groupcall communication system for student absence. The system will contact parents directly if a student is marked absent at registration and school has not been informed of a reason for the absence
• This system will ensure that both parents and school are aware of student absences and that students are absent and safe with their parents’ knowledge and permission
• If the school is not able to contact parents and there has been no message from home, then a phone call will be made to parents/carers
• Authorisation of a child’s absence is at the discretion of the school and parents/carers may be asked to provide medical evidence in order to support any absence

Sometimes my child is late. Is this okay?

In order to develop good learning habits and minimise interruption to learning, students should be punctual to lessons and to school. Students’ punctuality is monitored in line with our ‘Late Gate’ procedures.

We will build strong relationships with parents/carers to support in maintaining excellent punctuality, and will listen, plan and review the impact of support to address any concerns.

What happens if my child misses a lot of school?

Supporting children who are persistently absent (below 90% attendance):

• The school will use data to target children or groups of children who are at risk of persistent absence
• The school will listen to and understand students’ barriers to school ‘in school’ attendance
• The school will allocate professionals within school to support students and parents/carers
• The school will work with the Local Authority and other local partners to identify and reduce ‘out of school’ barriers
• The school will intensify support where absence does not improve or earlier support is not engaged with

How will the school ensure students are safe and tackle absence together with parents and carers?

• The school will communicate with parents and carers on a regular basis
• The school will share a clear sequence with parents and carers where attendance becomes a concern for their child
• The school will monitor all students’ attendance
• The school will implement individual plans to improve attendance in agreement with parents and carers
• The school will deploy the necessary resources and expertise internally and externally to support
• The school will review the impact of individual plans and intensify support if initial support is not successful or not engaged with

What if my child has a medical appointment? 
Where possible, appointments should be made outside of school hours or in school holidays. We realise that sometimes this is not always possible.
Students should come into school  before and/or after their appointments where possible to ensure they miss as little learning time as possible.

 

My child does not want to attend school what should I do?
Try to find out the reason they do not want to attend school.

Contact the school by emailing/calling your child’s Form Tutor, Year Leader or the attendance team to discuss any issues we may be able to help with.

Try to establish routines so a calm environment is maintained in the morning that may help to tackle anxieties your child is feeling.

Praise your child for their efforts in school.

I would like to request time off school for my child. What should I do?

Leave of Absence

The Government issued new regulations in September 2013 regarding Leave of Absence; The Education (Pupil Regulations) (England) Regulations 2006 as amended by Education (Pupil Regulations) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

• Head teachers shall not grant any Leave of Absence during term time unless they consider there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.
• Parents do not have any entitlement to take their children on holiday during term time.  Any application for leave must establish that there are exceptional circumstances and the Head Teacher must be satisfied that the circumstances warrant the granting of leave.
• Head Teachers will determine how many school days a child may be absent from school if the leave is granted.
• The school can only consider applications for Leave of Absence which are made by the resident parent. i.e the parent with whom the child normally resides.
• Applications for Leave of Absence must be made in advance and failure to do so will result in the absence being recorded as “unauthorised”. This may result in legal action against the parent, by way of a Fixed Penalty Notice.
• Applications for Leave of Absence which are made in advance and refused will result in the absence being recorded as “unauthorised”. This may result in legal action against the parent, by way of a Fixed Penalty Notice, if the child is absent from school during that period.
• All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a Leave of Absence will be referred to the Warwickshire Attendance Service of Warwickshire County Council.
• The Warwickshire Attendance Service have the authority to consider issuing Fixed Penalty Notices for Leave of Absence in line with the Warwickshire County Council’s Non-School Attendance and Penalty Notices Code of Conduct. (A copy of which can be found at https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/pupilnonattendance).
• If a Fixed Penalty Notice is issued and is not paid within the timeframe set out in that Notice, the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal prosecution proceedings under S444 of Education Act 1996.

Each application for a Leave of Absence will be considered on a case by case basis and on its own merits.

Leave Of Absence During Term Time Updated Information For Parents

The Supreme Court clarified has clarified the law on unauthorised leave, including holidays, during term time (Platt v Isle of Wright 2017). The Supreme Court has made clear that attending school ‘regularly’ means that the children must attend school on every day that they are required to do so. As such, the parents of any child who is absent from school without authorisation for any length of time are likely to be considered as committing an offence under s444 of the Education Act 1996.

The regulations regarding Leave of Absence (The Education (Pupil Regulations) (England) Regulations 2006 as amended by Education (Pupil Regulations) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013.) advise:

• Head teachers shall not grant any Leave of Absence during term time unless they consider there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.

If the leave is granted, Head teachers are able to determine the number of school days a child can be absent for.

It is for the Head teacher to decide what is ‘exceptional’ and it is at their discretion if the circumstances warrant the leave to be granted. When making an application for Leave of Absence in advance parents are advised to give sufficient information and time to allow the Head teacher the opportunity to consider all the exceptional circumstances and to notify parents of their decision. It is advised that if the resident parent has not received notification or a response regarding the leave of absence application, it is their responsibility to ascertain if the leave is authorised prior to the start of the leave.

The school can only consider Leave of Absence requests which are made by the ‘resident’ parent ie the parent with whom the child normally resides.

Where applications for leave of absence are made in advance and refused, the child will be required to be in school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence, which may result in legal action being taken against the parent(s), by way of a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Where a leave of absence is requested, but additional days taken either prior to or after the request may be considered as part of the leave of absence and could result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued to the parent(s).

Each application for a leave of absence will be considered on a case-by-case basis and on its own merits.

Leave of Absences which are not made in advance cannot be authorised in line with legislation.  This will result in the absence being recorded as ‘unauthorised’.  This may result in legal action against the parent, by way of a Fixed Penalty Notice.  All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a Leave of Absence will be referred to the Warwickshire Attendance Service, part of Warwickshire County Council.

It is important to note, Fixed Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example 2 children and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices in the amount of £120 each, totalling £240 for both children, this is reduced to £60 per child if paid within 21 days).

Where a Fixed Penalty Notice is not paid within the required timeframe as set out on the notice, the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal proceedings under S444 Education Act 1996.

Fixed Penalty Notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Council’s Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices.

Your child’s progress academically as well as socially is our shared priority

You can read our Attendance Policy here