At Harbour Vale, we believe that good attendance is directly linked to high achievement and that when students miss valuable lesson time, it can have a negative effect on their progress. It is school policy to work with students and their parents/carers when the student’s attendance falls below the school target.
On the first day of absence, and subsequent days, parents/carers must telephone (not email), the school office to explain the reason for their child’s absence. If this contact is not made, the child’s absence will be marked as unauthorised until a reason is given. All Holidays taken in term time will also be logged as unauthorised. For all appointments (medical etc.) we request that a copy of an appointment card or letter is handed into the school office.
If students are feeling unwell during the school day, they must let a member of staff know and they can then instruct the office to call home if necessary.
Students with good attendance and punctuality are rewarded.
The vast majority of students at HVS arrive to school via taxis before Reflection Time begins at 9.15am. All students should be in HVS for an 9.15am start. Students will be recorded as late if they arrive to school after registers close at 10am. Sanctions are in place for students who are frequently late.
Good attendance shows potential employers that your child is reliable. Children who go to school regularly might be less likely to get involved in antisocial behaviour or crime. All schools must record details of pupils’ attendance and absence at school. They do so at the beginning of morning and afternoon sessions.
90% Attendance sounds good, but means that your child misses:
- One half day each week
- Nearly four weeks every school year
- Over one school year in a school career
WHAT PARENTS/CARERS CAN DO
The following are ways that you can help to tackle the problem of truancy:
- Inform school, via a phone call, if your child has to be off school (preferably prior to absence or on the first day of a medical absence)
- Talk to your child about his/her school day
- Attend school Online Parent Evenings
- Find out what the school’s Attendance Policy and practice is
- Do not allow your child to be absent without good cause
- Arrange family holidays during the school holidays not in term time
- Arrange visits to the Doctor, Dentist, Opticians etc for outside of school hours
- Do not allow your child to be absent for birthdays, haircuts or shopping
If there are any problems, speak to your child’s class/tutor, Deputy Head or Headteacher
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
The law relating to school attendance is detailed in the Education Act, Sections 445 – 447; the Children Act 1989, Section 36; the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 (February 27th 2004), Section 19
To summarise:
- Parents/Carers have a legal responsibility to ensure that their child/children receive an education appropriate to their age, aptitude and ability, either by regular school attendance or otherwise
- Parents/Carers are responsible for ensuring that their child/children attend school each day and arrive on time.
- Parents/Carers must not allow their child/children to work during school hours
- Parents/Carers can receive up to a 3 month imprisonment or £2,500 fine as a result of not ensuring their child/children’s attendance at school
- Parents/Carers can receive a Penalty Notice (up to £120) for a period of unauthorised absence (i.e. unauthorised holidays in term time)
- Parents/carers can receive a Penalty Notice if a child is out in a public place unsupervised while suspended/excluded from school
School Attendance role covers:
Offering support to families and pupils to assist them in securing regular school attendance. This may include:
- Meeting pupils in school to offer support and advice
- Liaison between home and school to improve communication links and resolve any difficulties that have hindered progress
- Working in partnership with other agencies to promote the child’s welfare and gain appropriate support.
This may include:
- Referral to social care staff for support
- Referral to the SEN Team
- Referral for educational psychologist
Ensuring that the statutory duty in relation to school attendance is carried out. This includes:
- Half termly register checks
- Prosecuting parents who fail to secure their child’s attendance at school
- Issue a Penalty Notice
For further guidance – ‘Is my child too ill for school?’, see the link below:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/