ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY POLICY

ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY POLICY OVERVIEW If learners are to get the greatest benefit from their education in school, it is important that they have good attendance and arrive punctually. As learners grow and prepare for the next stages of their education and employment they need to see good attendance and punctuality as important qualities that are valued by others including their employers. At Valewood, we will do all that we can to encourage good attendance and punctuality. Where attendance and punctuality does not keep in line with our high expectations for attendance and punctuality we will put into place effective strategies to bring about improvement. OBJECTIVES 1. To ensure that all learners attend school well. 2. To ensure that all learners are punctual. 3. To win the support of parents/ carers in ensuring that their children attend school well and that they arrive on time. 4. To keep good records of attendance through the school registers and to take prompt action to follow up absences. 5. To investigate and act immediately where truancy is suspected or confirmed. 6. To work effectively with the LA and other agencies to follow up attendance issues promptly and efficiently. 7. To closely monitor pupils with attendance and punctuality issues and to work with parents/ carers and where appropriate other agencies to bring about improvement. 8. To closely monitor pupils who are taking holidays in term time by monitoring the Request for Leave procedures 9. To ensure the LA are notified when a child’s absence exceeds the stated leave limit over a term/ two terms, when the LA may issue a fixed penalty notice. STRATEGIES 1. To promote good attendance and punctuality the school will share weekly % data with parents/ carers via the Valewood Newsletter. 2. Attendance Matters guidance, in accordance with local and national guidance on parental responsibilities re: attendance and punctuality will be shared with all parents/ carers at the beginning of every school year at the Meet the Teacher sessions. 3. Teachers, together with the Headteacher will discourage holidays during term time at the Curriculum Meet the Teacher in the first week of the Autumn term. 4. All staff will complete registers accurately for each session and will draw to the Headteacher’s attention any absences that are cause for concern or suspicion. 5. The Family Gate will be closed at 9.00 a.m. Late arrivals need to be signed in by parents/ carers via the school office. This record will be shared with the Headteacher who will take appropriate action. Late arrival will be monitored closely on a half termly basis (or sooner if concern arises) when the Headteacher will send letters home to parents/ carers following the monitoring of late sessions. 6. Parents will be asked to telephone or notify the school if their child is absent or ill. 7. First day absence procedure: the school office Attendance Manager will make telephone contact with home when a child is absent, if the parents/ carers have not notified the school that their child is absent already. 8. Where a learner is developing a pattern of ‘occasional’ absences the parent will be contacted to discuss the pattern of absences. 9. The Headteacher will monitor % of absences each half term and send letters home if there is cause for concern. 10. The school will use the local authority’s Education Welfare Officer to follow up absences that are suspicious or that are causing concern. 11. Where necessary the school will work closely with the LA to take action against parents/ carers who are unlawfully keeping learners from school; when a fixed penalty notice may be issued. 12. ‘The Attendance Cup’ is awarded each week to the class which has the best % attendance. Best class % attendance for each half term is celebrated in Assembly and rewards are given to each child in the class. 13. End of year 100% attendees are rewarded with an event to celebrate their commitment. OUTCOMES At Valewood we will do all we can to ensure that learners come to school happily, willingly and punctually to ensure that all gain the greatest possible value from their education. We will do all we can to meet our targets for high attendance. Adopted by the Governing Body: Signed by the Chair of Governors………………………………………………Date: 25.10.15 Review date: Autumn Term 2016