A penalty notice fine will be issued when there are 10 instances of unauthorised absence in a 100 session block. The block can straddle school years and even across to a new school. Similarly, a fine will be issued for persistent lateness. There are very few instances that school can authorise for exceptional circumstances – we may ask you for proof of travel arrangements and dates – also reviewing evidence on social media which is contradictory to any information provided that could be used to reinforce the decision.

Taking your child on holiday during term should never be treated lightly. As a result, holidays in term time will not be authorised. Children need to be in school to maximise their learning and hence their life chances – unnecessary absence has a long-term negative impact on their learning.

How do we promote good attendance in school with the pupils?

Each half-term we award a certificate to the class with the best attendance within that half-term. School councillors receive the certificate on behalf of their class which is then displayed in the classroom. Data is added to the school website or Contact newsletter depending on the timing.

We are mindful that the local requirement is for 48 hours following a sickness problem, hence we don't celebrate 100% attendance specifically, though we do flag those children who have reached this milestone. 

Typically, our attendance is well above the national average for attendance, in excess of 97%.

We run reports to monitor absence and look for patterns of concern or blocks of unexplained time away from school. You will receive reminder phone calls and/or letters when attendance is becoming a concern. We may then ask for physical proof of medical appointments, or alert the Attendance Legal Panel to assist in changing the perception that absence from school is acceptable.