The World’s their Oyster… and school can help them to realise this
Attendance Matters – Every Day Counts!
To give your child every possible chance in life it is very important that they attend school regularly. The Government has raised its expectation for attendance at school, now considering ‘persistent absence’ at 90% attendance or below per child. At Avanti Schools Trust, we consider good attendance as an essential factor in the progress and achievement of children and will not give a school a good grade unless attendance is above expectation.
Whilst we understand that occasionally children are unwell, we do expect children to develop resilience and attend school unless they are very sick. A runny nose or feeling tired are not reasons to keep your child off school whereas suffering from Chicken Pox (until scabs form) is a genuine reason.
As with all staff members, we expect all medical appointments to be made after school or during the school holidays.
Authorised Absence – Your Responsibilities
Under the terms of the Government’s Education Regulation 1991 (Pupils’ Attendance Records) we have to publish information concerning children’s attendance at school. If your child is away from school we need to know the reason and request that you follow the procedures below:
- If your child is absent for one day or a few days please telephone the school before 10am on the first day of absence and send a note when he/she returns to school explaining the reason for the absence.
- If your child is likely to be absent for a week or more please keep us informed by telephoning to speak with the Pupil Attendance Officer. Then send a note when he/she returns to school explaining the reason for the absence.
- Appointments should be made after school or during the holidays where possible. However, if this is not possible after every effort, please write to the school or telephone before the appointment date.
- Avanti Court in line with Redbridge Policy operates a zero tolerance towards holidays taken during term time apart from the following agreed exceptional circumstances:
a. Serious illness or death of close relative at the discretion of the Head Teacher
b. Religious reasons (up to 3 days)
c. Sudden loss of housing through eviction or domestic violence up to a maximum of 3 days.
d. Out of school programmes at high level (music exams for example). This is at the discretion of the Head Teacher.
e. Weddings of close relatives when an explanation why this is not happening at the weekend or during holidays. Only one such request will be considered whilst at Avanti Court (1 day).
Good Attendance
A child who has attendance between 98%-100% will be awarded a certificate at the end of the full term.
The class with the highest attendance for the term will be rewarded with a ‘special day out’ with their class teacher.
Poor Attendance
We are responsible for monitoring attendance and ensuring children have their educational entitlement. If attendance is causing concern the school will contact parents to arrange an appointment with the Educational Welfare Officer. Other services may be involved should the school consider this necessary. Parents who take their children on holidays during term time may be fined (fixed penalty notice), and the absence will be marked as unauthorized and may result in the child losing their place at the school.
Lateness
Lateness is monitored and recorded by the school as a legal requirement. Parents/carers of children who are regularly late are likely to be contacted by the School Office in the first instance and then may receive a visit from the Educational Welfare Officer. The Leadership Team will contact parents/carers of children with persistent lateness. As with low attendance, lateness is detrimental to a child’s education because they will miss the start of the opening session of the school day.
Please read the important documents regarding attendance of London Borough of Redbridge:
Click here to find out more information from the London Borough of Redbridge:
https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/schools/school-attendance-and-educational-welfare-services/