Thorney Close Primary SchoolAttendance and Punctuality
Regular and punctual school attendance is important. Pupils need to attend school regularly if they are to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them by law. Thorney Close Primary School fully recognises its responsibilities to ensure pupils are in school and on time, therefore having access to learning for the maximum number of days and hours.
Our attendance policy applies to all children registered at this school. It has been written to adhere to the relevant Children Acts, Education Acts, Regulations and Guidance from the Department for Education in addition to guidance from the Local Authority.
Although parents/carers have the legal responsibility for ensuring their child’s good attendance, the Headteacher and Governors at our school work together with other professionals and agencies to ensure that all pupils are encouraged and supported to develop good attendance habits.
Children who are persistently late or absent soon fall behind with their learning. Children who are absent from school frequently develop large gaps in their learning which will impact on their progress and their ability to meet age related learning expectations.
Half day absent = 3 hours of lessons missed.
1 day absent = 5 hours of lessons missed.
3 days absent = 15 hours of lessons missed.
1 week absent = 25 hours of lessons missed.
2 weeks absent = 50 hours of lessons missed.
Children are expected to attend school every day, unless they are sick. It is the parents’ responsibility to inform the school of their child's unexpected absence as soon as possible. Parents are required to contact the school office on the first day of absence, either in person or with a telephone call. If your child is ill, the school should be notified of the nature of the illness and when your child is expected to be able to return to school. If we do not receive information on the reason for absence, then the absence will be classed as unauthorised in the register and on your child’s report.
If your child is sick, please contact the school and leave a message on our dedicated attendance line
0191 5250808 – selecting option 1 – which is available 24/7.
or
Email - parents@thorneycloseprimaryschool.co.uk
Please note that if we have not been contacted by you, it is part of our school policy for a member of the school office to contact parents or carers on the first day of absence to enquire about your child’s absence, which also ensures that your child is safe and has not set out to school and failed to arrive.
Authorised absence
An absence is classified as authorised when a child has been away from school for a legitimate reason and the school has received notification from a parent or carer. For example, if a child has been unwell and the parent telephones the school to explain the absence.
Only the school can make an absence authorised. Parents do not have this authority. Consequently not all absences supported by parents will be classified as authorised.
Unauthorised absence
Unauthorised absences are those which the school does not consider reasonable and for which no leave has been given. This type of absence can lead to the Authority using sanctions and/or legal proceedings. This includes:
- Parents/carers keeping children off school unnecessarily
- Truancy during the school day.
- Absences which have never been properly explained.
- Children who arrive at school too late to get a mark.
- Shopping, looking after other children or birthdays.
- Day trips and holidays in term time which have not been agreed.
Exceptional Leave of Absence during Term Time
Under new legislation we are no longer able to authorise holidays during term time. Where children require time off during the school term we are only able to authorise this under exceptional circumstances, in some instances proof of circumstances may be required.
From September 2024, unauthorised leave of absence of more than 10 sessions or 5 days, in a period of 10 school weeks could result in the Local Authority issuing a penalty notice.
Please contact school office for a Request for Exceptional Leave of Absence during Term Time Form
attendance information june 2024.pdf
penalty notices code of conduct.pdf
Lateness
It is the legal responsibility of parents to ensure that children arrive at school on time. Any child arriving after the school's official starting time (8.45am) will be classified on the register as late.
At the start of the school day children arriving after 8.55am must enter the building through the main school entrance/office as all other doors will be locked. If a child is late for school thy must be accompanied into school with their parent/carer.
Missing just 10 minutes of school a day is the same as missing two weeks over the year.
Pupils who arrive late and/or leave early also disrupt lessons, which can be embarrassing for the child and can in turn, encourage absence.
It is also extremely disruptive for the rest of their class.