Field View Primary School

Mrs N Alaimo

Attendance officer

Spotlight on Attendance

It is a parent’s legal responsibility to ensure their children receive appropriate education. Failing to send your child to school regularly without good reason is a criminal offence.

Absence disrupts the education of the individual pupil and the whole class. Are you aware that children who do not attend regularly:

• do not achieve well in exams
• find it difficult to maintain friendships
• are more likely to become involved in crime
• miss out on opportunities in further education and in the world of work

Absense can only be authorised by the Head Teacher, within the boundaries set by the Education Act 1996. Please remember that parental illness, going shopping, visiting family, truancy, not wanting to go to school, alleged bullying (speak to school immediately to resolve the issue) are not acceptable reasons to be absent. All of these will be recorded as unauthorised absence. Leave in term time will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances.

Punctuality – If pupils arrive after registers close they will be recorded as absent and this will be unauthorised (U).

Legal actions that may be taken include:

• Issuing penalty notices: Each parent receives a penalty notice for each child who has unauthorised absence.The penalty is £60 or £120 depending on how soon payment is made. So, if there are two parents and two children the total penalties could be up to £480. Failure to pay may result in prosecution.
• Taking parents to court for unauthorised absence: Education Act 1996 Section 444(1) – magistrates can fine each parent up to £1,000 per child, add costs and impose Parenting Orders.
• Taking parents to court for persistent unauthorised absence: Education Act 1996 Section 444(1A) – magistrates can fine each parent up to £2,500 per child, impose Parenting Orders and/or impose a period of imprisonment of up to 3 months.
• Being taken to court could result in you having a criminal record.

How does your child compare?

Frequent absence can add up to a considerable amount of lost learning and can seriously disadvantage your child in adult life. If your child’s level of absence is of serious concern you will receive another letter advising you about improving attendance. After this, any further unauthorised absence may result in the Local Authority taking legal action.

We will improve attendance by making it clear within the school and local community that unauthorised absence is not acceptable. You will be informed of the number of penalty notices issued, prosecutions and also the percentage of improvement in attendance.

Punctuality

Good punctuality is also vital.  School starts at 9:00 am, but children are able to come into school between 8.45am and 9.00am. Children arriving after the bell has gone will receive a late mark on the register and parents must sign their child in using the electronic sign in system.

Children arriving after the close of register will be recorded as late (U code). This will not be authorised and will count as an absence for that school session. This form of absence will be followed up in the same manner as any other form of unauthorised absence; including following through to a referral to the Local Authority for legal action if the problem is not addressed. We must stress that repeated lateness has a significant impact on children’s readiness for school and their performance.

 

If my child’s attendance drops below 96%, what will happen?

If your child’s attendance drops below 95% it will be closely monitored by the Pastoral Officer and the Education Welfare Officer.  If there is no improvement you will be invited in to school to discuss factors affecting attendance, how we can support you and your family and to complete an Early Help Assessment (EHA).

We are always keen to work alongside parents and children to successfully address any attendance concerns.

If attendance drops to below 90% the child will be considered a persistent absentee  and legal action may be taken.

 

I am worried about my child’s attendance

If you need help with your child’s attendance, you must talk to us as soon as possible.

Please call or visit the School Office and speak to Mrs Alaimo (Pastoral Officer) who will be happy to talk to you about this.

Sometimes, school may need to involve other services to help. The School and Education Welfare Officer want to help you if you have a problem. If attendance does not get better or you do not accept help and support offered, the Council may have to begin enforcement action.

 

Our Education Welfare Officer (EWO)

Our EWO is Mrs Donna Cox.  If you would like to speak to her, please contact Mrs Alaimo who can arrange for Donna to meet with you or call you

Regular attendance gives your child the opportunity to:

• Make lots of friends and feel included
• Learn new things and develop many skills
• Increase their confidence and self-esteem
• Improve their social skills
• Achieve their potential and fulfil their aspirations

 

All children are sometimes unhappy about attending school.  Families can sometimes be going through unsettled times that can make regular school attendance more difficult. Any problems with regular attendance, especially any concerns about possible bullying or learning difficulties are best sorted out between the school, the parents and the child at an early stage. 

If a child is reluctant to attend, it is never better to cover up their absence or to give in to pressure to excuse them from attending.  This gives the impression that school attendance does not matter and may make things worse.

 

Reporting an absence

Parents must advise the school by telephone every  day of absence to keep us updated on their child’s health and possible return to school. This call should be made by 9:00am. If the absence is more than 3 days in duration, then parents need to provide medical evidence in order for the absence to be authorised

If a child is absent and no explanation has been received then the school will use the provided contact list in order to try and establish a reason for absence. If we cannot establish a reason to our satisfaction then we may carry out a home visit.

 

 

 

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