Attendance
Attendance
At St Paul’s C E Primary School, we expect children to attend school every day, as long as they are fit and healthy enough to do so. We feel that the most important way to promote good attendance is to ensure that both pupils and parents have a positive relationship with school.
Research shows that pupils who attend school regularly are more likely to do well in the future. Regular attendance helps children to develop their confidence and to make and keep lasting friendships.
The Department for Education has determined that from September 2015 a pupil becomes a persistent absentee when their attendance falls below 90%. When attendance nears this level children have already missed significant amounts of schooling; meaning that their educational progress is at risk. We need parents' full support in ensuring that attendance does not reach this level. Parents may be asked to attend an Attendance Panel meeting to discuss their child’s attendance.
Each term, your child's attendance will be recorded on end of term reports and this will be colour coded red, amber or green depending on your child's attendance.
If you know your child is going to be absent from school, you must ring the school office on 01254 231026 at the earliest opportunity to let us know. School will contact parents if they are in any doubt as to the whereabouts of a child.
Attendance Policy
Leave in Term Time & Unauthorised Absences
Leave in term time is not a “right”. Absence from school can have a serious impact on your child’s education. All requests for leave in term time must be made in advance of confirming any arrangements and may be granted at the Headteacher’s discretion dependant on the circumstances. Changes to the regulations mean that schools can only authorise leave in term time if the circumstances surrounding the request are considered to be exceptional.
If pupils accumulate a number of unauthorised absence’s, school may have to consider referral to external agencies, such as the Local Authority Pupil Attendance Support Team. Parents will now be fined for any holidays taken during term time, this will happen automatically if the child is off for more than 5 days. If a child has unauthorised attendance, equivalent to 10 sessions, this will also incur a fine.
A Holiday Request Form MUST be completed if you are taking your child out of school in term time, even if this is only for a day or two. You can download the form here or call into the school office to collect one:
