Attendance and Absence

PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY ON REPORTING ABSENCE

Please see the Attendance Policy

A child not attending school is considered a safeguarding matter. This is why information about the cause of any absence is always required. If your child is absent you must: 

  • Contact us as soon as possible on the first day of absence
  • Parents need to bring to the school evidence of dates of medical appointments, e.g. copy of medical letter and complete a leave of absence form
  • Medical evidence may be required if your child has above average illness this could be a copy of a prescription, labelled medication or an appointment card.

 IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT WE WILL: 

  • Telephone or text you on the first day of absence if we have not heard from you, this is because we have a duty to ensure your child’s safety as well as their regular school attendance.  
  • We may refer the matter to the Leeds City Council School Attendance Service if absence falls below 90% (Appendix two: school based interventions)
  • If we believe that your child is absent due to a holiday you may be issued with a penalty notice £60 per parent per child.

 AUTHORISED ABSENCE IS DEFINED AS:

  • Genuine illness
  • Medical or dental appointment (routine appointments should be arranged out of school time)
  • Bereavement – (Headteacher’s discretion)
  • Religious observance (no more than 2 days per academic year)
  • Approved leave in term time where there are exceptional circumstances, as agreed by the Headteacher.

UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE IS DEFINED AS:

  • Holidays in term time (following the Department for Education’s Guidelines)
  • Absence in term time where permission has not been given by the school in accordance with the A.R.M Cluster Attendance Policy. This means that parents/ carers do not have the right to take their child out of school during term time.
  • Late, after the registers have closed (a ‘U’ code will be used)
  • Any absence that the school has not been informed of by letter or by telephone;
  • Unexplained absence. Any child whose absence is on-going and remains unexplained for an extended period (10 days) will be referred to the local authority as a child missing education (CME)
  • Taking the rest of the day off before or after a medical appointment.
  • Staying at home to care for younger children or sick relatives;
  • Going shopping or having a haircut;
  • Birthdays, Weddings or Anniversaries;
  • Transport issues e.g. car broken down;
  • Travelling to airport to meet relatives/friends;
  • Translating
  • Visiting sick relatives

% ATTENDANCE EXPRESSED IN NUMBER OF DAYS ABSENT

Attendance/absence is presented as a percentage figure, but it’s helpful to equate this to number of days off:

98% = fewer than four days absent in a school year

95% = fewer than ten days absent in one school year

90% = 4 weeks absent in one school year (equates to a ½ day each week)

85% = 5.5 weeks absent in one school year (approaching a whole half-term in the school year)

80% = 7.5 weeks absent in one school year (equates to one day each week or a whole half-term)

Over 5 years children with an average attendance of 85-90% will have missed half a school year of education while children with an average attendance of 80% will have missed a whole school year.

 

In January 2024, the DfE updated its guidance to support better attendance for all, in its document Working Together to Improve School AttendanceThe DfE have produced a useful guidance sheet to support Parents and Carers addressing some common worries and questions.  Take a look below.  As a school, we will continue to work with you to support attendance,  Please do contact if you would like support on improving your child's attendance at school.