Attendance is a whole school priority and requires the full support of everyone in the school community.

Sickness absence

If your child is unwell you should telephone the school absence line on 020 7603 5333

 

If we have not received a message that your child is absent, a member of staff will telephone you to find out where your child is.  This is for your child’s safety and to ensure that we know they are safe, so please be understanding if you receive a call from us.

Regular attendance

Regular attendance at school promotes pupils’ well-being, maximises progress in learning and helps pupils reach their potential. The attendance pattern for all children is monitored weekly with the school seeking to work actively with parents to ensure a regular pattern is maintained. One of our basic principles is to celebrate success. Good attendance is fundamental to a successful and fulfilling school experience. It is our duty to promote 100% attendance for all children. For our children to take full advantage of the educational opportunities offered it is vital that our pupils are at school, on time, every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable.

 

All children have the right to an education and we have put in place appropriate procedures to support this. We believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is development of positive attitudes towards school and learning.

 

Good attendance is important because:

• statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and absence below 95%
• regular attenders make better progress, both socially and academically
• regular attenders find school routines, school work and friendships easier to cope with
• regular attenders find learning more satisfying
• regular attenders are most successful in transferring between primary school, secondary school, higher education and employment or training

 

The Governing Body and Head teacher, in partnership with parents have a duty to promote full attendance at school.

 

Absence during term time

The law does not grant parents an automatic right to take their child out of school during term time. Permission must be sought in advance and must be for ‘exceptional circumstances’.  Absence from school will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. When deciding whether to allow term time leave, for any reason, the school will only consider:

• the reason for the leave, including
  • if the absence is unavoidable,
  • and, beyond the control and/or decision making of parents;
• the time and duration of the leave;
• whether or not the leave could have been taken during the statutory school holiday periods;
• child’s record of attendance;
• learning that will be missed.

 

If the Head teacher refuses your request and the child is still taken out of school, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and may make you liable to a Fixed Penalty Notice fine of up to £120.