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Tue Sep 7 2010

Park School recognises that regular school attendance is crucial if students are to achieve their potential and meet the five outcomes of the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda:

 

The school will strive to provide a welcoming environment for all pupils and staff will work with pupils and their families to ensure each pupil attends school regularly and punctually. The school will establish an effective system of incentives and rewards to acknowledge the efforts of pupils in maintaining their attendance and will challenge the behaviour of those pupils and parents who do not prioritise attendance and punctuality.

 

Park School will establish an effective and efficient system of communication with pupils, parents and appropriate agencies to provide information, advice and guidance.

 

 

1. To improve the overall percentage attendance of pupils at school.

2. To make attendance and punctuality a priority for those associated with the school including pupils, parents, teachers

     and governors.

3. To provide support, advice and guidance to parents.

4. To develop a systematic approach to collating and analysing attendance related data.

5. To further develop positive communication between home and school.

6. To maintain a system of rewards.

7. To work effectively with the Education Welfare Officer and other services and agencies.

 

 

Section 444 of the Education Act states that: ‘If a child of compulsory school age who is a registered student at a school fails to attend regularly at the school, the parent is guilty of an offence’ (Please see admissions policy for guidance).

 

1. Parents (or the person with parental responsibility) are primarily responsible for ensuring that children attend and stay

    at school.

 

2. Parents should ensure that their children arrive at school on time, correctly dressed and prepared to learn.

 

3. Parents should avoid, if possible, making non-emergency medical/dental appointments for their child during school

    hours.

 

4. Authorised absences include: illness, emergency treatment during school hours.

Un-authorised absences include: looking after siblings, birthdays, shopping, general trips and extreme number of

absences that are not supported with medical evidence.

 

The fact that a parent has submitted a note in relation to a particular absence does not mean that the school must accept the explanation as a valid reason for absence. Absence without a valid reason, or where no explanation is offered at all is recorded as unauthorised absence. Parents do not have the right to take their child out of school for a holiday during term time. Any such requests will need to be submitted in writing in advance, 10 days may be agreed by the school.

 

Park School has a large proportion of pupils who originate from other countries. The school will be sensitive to the needs of families returning to their homeland, a letter may be submitted to the governors requesting an extension to their planned break. All such requests will be assessed on their own merit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff will ensure that registration is completed accurately and that they follow school attendance procedures. They will be pro-active in providing a positive ethos which places a high value on attendance and punctuality.

 

 

 

The Education Welfare Team is responsible for discharging the Local Authority’s legal duty to ensure that all registered pupils of compulsory school age attend school regularly and punctually. If a student fails to attend regularly, and attempts by the school and Education Welfare Officer have failed to ensure a return to regular attendance, then the Education Welfare Officer can take legal action under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996.

 

The Education Welfare Officer (EWO) for Park School attends meetings every 2 weeks at the school with the attendance officer. The EWO works in partnership with school, staff, parents and other agencies to identify and deal with cases of non-attendance. Strategies used by the EWO when concerns about persistent absence are raised include:

 

 

Attendance targets are set annually for Park School, this ensures that absence and punctuality are monitored regularly. Information is sent to the LA termly. Attendance figures for all pupils are analysed by the Attendance Officer. Pupils whose attendance falls significantly below the target, will generate contact with parents either in writing or by telephone. 100% attendance and punctuality are rewarded with certificates of achievement and incentives are put in place to encourage pupils to maintain improved attendance.

 

 

 

 

Regular and punctual attendance of pupils at school is expected, and is strictly enforced. It is both a legal requirement and essential in order for pupils to maximise their learning. Parents will be notified if their son / daughter’s attendance falls below 85%. In case of illness, the school should be notified by telephone or by e-mail enquiries@park.lincs.sch.uk) as soon as possible and the student must bring a written explanation of his/her absence to school on their return. If an absence is not confirmed by parents it is assumed that the absence was unauthorised and it is recorded as such. To support parents who have English as a second language, a form in their first language will be sent for them to complete with absence details.

 

 

 

1. Registration begins at 8.45am each morning for KS2 and 8.55am for KS1.

2. The class teacher (or cover teacher) will take registration, recording a ‘mark’ for each student present.

3. Any student who is absent when the register is taken and who subsequently arrives before 9.30am will be recorded as

    late.

4. In the afternoon the register will be taken at 1.00pm.

5. Teacher/cover staff are responsible for filling in absence forms enabling mentors to implement first day calling.

 

 

 

Every half-day absence from school has to be classified by the school (not by the parents) as either AUTHORISED or UNAUTHORISED.

 

 

 

If a student is absent as a result of illness the absence is authorised; this needs to be confirmed by a parent/carer in writing.

If there is doubt about the authenticity of absence attributed to illness, the school and EWO can consult with the school health service or the student’s general practitioner to confirm the condition.

 

 

As far as possible, appointments should be made out of school hours.

If a medical or dental appointment has to be made during the school day, the school must be informed beforehand, stating the time of the appointment in order that the absence can be authorised. Appointments should be made to miss as little of school time as possible. All pupils must be put in the ‘sent home book’ when they leave school to attend the appointment, and be put in the register when they return.

 

 

The school recognises that the death of a family member can be a particularly traumatic event and the school has the discretion to authorisesuch absences.

 

 

Absence due to participation in a day set aside exclusively for religious observance by the religious body to which the parents belong is authorisedby the school. Advance notice is appreciated.

 

Cases of such absences will constitute unauthorised absence.

 

 

It is the responsibility of the school to determine whether an absence in this category should be authorised or not. Each application would be considered separately.

 

 

Absences for social occasions such as birthdays and family outings are unauthorisedby the school.

 

 

Family holidays during term time:

Parents wishing to take their child out of school during term time are required to apply in advance from the school. In considering whether to grant a term-time leave, the school will consider:

 

 

If permission is not granted and parents take their child out of school, the absences will be recorded as unauthorised.