ROCKLANDS SCHOOL
Rocklands School Attendance Policy PRINCIPLES: Parents of registered pupils have a legal duty under the Education Act 1996 to make sure that children of compulsory school age attend school on a regular and full-time basis. Children should be at school, on time, every day the school is open, unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable. Permitting absence from school without a good reason is an offence and parents may be reported to the Education Authority if problems cannot be resolved by agreement. Every half-day absence from school has to be classified by the school, (not by the parents), as either authorised or unauthorised. This is why information about the cause of each absence is always required. Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from school for a good reason: illness or other unavoidable cause. Unauthorised absences are those which the school does not consider reasonable and for which no “leave” has been given. This includes:
parents keeping children off school unnecessarily truancy before or during the school day absences which have never been properly explained children who arrive at school too late to get a mark
Parents are expected to contact school at an early stage and to work with the staff in resolving any problems together. This is nearly always successful. If difficulties cannot be resolved in this way, the school may refer the child to the Education Welfare Officer from the Local Authority. He/she will also try to resolve the situation by agreement but, if other ways of trying to improve the child’s attendance have failed, these Officers can use court proceedings to prosecute parents or to seek an Education Supervision Order on the child. The maximum penalty on conviction is a fine of £2500 and/or 3 months imprisonment. Alternatively, parents or children may wish to contact the EWO themselves to ask for help or information. They are independent of the school and will give impartial advice. Their telephone number is available from the school office or by contacting the Local Education Authority. We have carefully considered and analysed the impact of this policy on equality, and the possible implications for pupils and protected characteristics, as part of our commitment to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty (see also Equality and Accessibility plans).
PROCEDURES: The school applies the following procedures in deciding how to deal with individual absences: Illness and other legitimate reasons: All parents have a copy of the School Handbook which states that in the event of a child’s absence parents are required to: Inform the escort that their child will not require transport to and from school. Contact school on the first day of absence to inform the secretary who will pass the information on to the relevant class teacher. Contact school if the child is still absent after three days to let us know when he/she is likely to return to school. On arrival at school escorts are required to complete the absence book in the entrance hall for any pupil who has not been collected by transport and record the reasons given for absence. Only illness, medical appointments, extreme domestic need or family holidays are considered reasons for absence from school. Holidays Department for Education Regulations updated 15.04.13 Term-time holiday Amendments to the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 remove references to family holiday and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of ten school days. The amendments make clear that the headteacher may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. The Headteacher should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted. Holidays taken during term time will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and this may make you liable to a £60/120 fine. The Education (Penalty Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 increased the current amounts of penalty notices payable by parents from 1 September 2012). Lateness: The majority of pupils are transported into school via minibuses and taxis. Lateness may occasionally occur through no fault of the pupils or parents due to traffic or weather difficulties. These are not recorded as (L) in the register. If pupils’ transport regularly delivers them late to school, without good reason, we will contact the authority on behalf of parents to rectify the situation. We have carefully considered and analysed the impact of this policy on equality, and the possible implications for pupils and protected characteristics, as part of our commitment to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty (see also Equality and Accessibility plans).
Registration closes at 9.30 a.m. prompt. Pupils arriving after this time will receive an ‘unauthorised absence’ for the morning only. Where the lateness is due to an acceptable reason (i.e. medical appointment) this is recorded with (M). Those people responsible for attendance matters in this school are: Headteacher: Ms S. Swift Deputy Headteacher: Mrs. J. Elliker Summary The school has a legal duty to publish its absence figures to parents and to promote attendance. Equally, parents have a duty to make sure that their children attend. School staff are committed to working with parents as the best way to ensure as high a level of attendance as possible. Policy Agreed: spring 2016 Policy to be reviewed: spring 2018
We have carefully considered and analysed the impact of this policy on equality, and the possible implications for pupils and protected characteristics, as part of our commitment to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty (see also Equality and Accessibility plans).
parents keeping children off school unnecessarily truancy before or during the school day absences which have never been properly explained children who arrive at school too late to get a mark
Parents are expected to contact school at an early stage and to work with the staff in resolving any problems together. This is nearly always successful. If difficulties cannot be resolved in this way, the school may refer the child to the Education Welfare Officer from the Local Authority. He/she will also try to resolve the situation by agreement but, if other ways of trying to improve the child’s attendance have failed, these Officers can use court proceedings to prosecute parents or to seek an Education Supervision Order on the child. The maximum penalty on conviction is a fine of £2500 and/or 3 months imprisonment. Alternatively, parents or children may wish to contact the EWO themselves to ask for help or information. They are independent of the school and will give impartial advice. Their telephone number is available from the school office or by contacting the Local Education Authority. We have carefully considered and analysed the impact of this policy on equality, and the possible implications for pupils and protected characteristics, as part of our commitment to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty (see also Equality and Accessibility plans).
PROCEDURES: The school applies the following procedures in deciding how to deal with individual absences: Illness and other legitimate reasons: All parents have a copy of the School Handbook which states that in the event of a child’s absence parents are required to: Inform the escort that their child will not require transport to and from school. Contact school on the first day of absence to inform the secretary who will pass the information on to the relevant class teacher. Contact school if the child is still absent after three days to let us know when he/she is likely to return to school. On arrival at school escorts are required to complete the absence book in the entrance hall for any pupil who has not been collected by transport and record the reasons given for absence. Only illness, medical appointments, extreme domestic need or family holidays are considered reasons for absence from school. Holidays Department for Education Regulations updated 15.04.13 Term-time holiday Amendments to the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 remove references to family holiday and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of ten school days. The amendments make clear that the headteacher may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. The Headteacher should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted. Holidays taken during term time will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and this may make you liable to a £60/120 fine. The Education (Penalty Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 increased the current amounts of penalty notices payable by parents from 1 September 2012). Lateness: The majority of pupils are transported into school via minibuses and taxis. Lateness may occasionally occur through no fault of the pupils or parents due to traffic or weather difficulties. These are not recorded as (L) in the register. If pupils’ transport regularly delivers them late to school, without good reason, we will contact the authority on behalf of parents to rectify the situation. We have carefully considered and analysed the impact of this policy on equality, and the possible implications for pupils and protected characteristics, as part of our commitment to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty (see also Equality and Accessibility plans).
Registration closes at 9.30 a.m. prompt. Pupils arriving after this time will receive an ‘unauthorised absence’ for the morning only. Where the lateness is due to an acceptable reason (i.e. medical appointment) this is recorded with (M). Those people responsible for attendance matters in this school are: Headteacher: Ms S. Swift Deputy Headteacher: Mrs. J. Elliker Summary The school has a legal duty to publish its absence figures to parents and to promote attendance. Equally, parents have a duty to make sure that their children attend. School staff are committed to working with parents as the best way to ensure as high a level of attendance as possible. Policy Agreed: spring 2016 Policy to be reviewed: spring 2018
We have carefully considered and analysed the impact of this policy on equality, and the possible implications for pupils and protected characteristics, as part of our commitment to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty (see also Equality and Accessibility plans).
