Attendance

Aims

The staff and Governors of Downland School strongly believe that all pupils benefit from regular attendance. To achieve this, we do all we can to encourage parents/carers to ensure that their child achieves maximum possible attendance and that any problems which prevent full attendance are identified quickly and acted upon promptly. It is only by attending School regularly that pupils are able to achieve their full potential.

Purpose

To impress upon all pupils the benefits of good attendance and to make them aware of our expectations that they will:

· Attend School regularly

· Attend School punctually

· Discuss with their tutors/Attendance Manager any problems preventing them from attending school

We expect that parents/carers will:

· Encourage regular school attendance and be aware of their legal responsibilities.

· Ensure that their child arrives at school punctually.

· Contact the School via the office on 01380 724193, or email absence@downland.wilts.sch.uk, on each morning of absence until they return to school.

· Contact the School whenever any problem occurs that may keep the child away from School.

Procedures & Practices

Downland School will:

· Provide a welcoming atmosphere for children

· Encourage good attendance

· Keep accurate records of attendance for all pupils

· Monitor the attendance of all pupils

· Contact parents as soon as possible when a pupil fails to attend and no message has been received to explain the absence

· Decide whether an absence is authorised or unauthorised depending on the reason given

· Contact parents of pupils who are attending irregularly to express their concern and to clarify the expectation of the School and the LA with regard to regular School attendance

· Refer on-going irregular or unjustified patterns of attendance to the Education Welfare Service

Please be aware that irregular/poor attendance may provide the basis for prosecution by the Education Welfare Service.

Punctuality

The importance of punctuality will be reinforced by all staff:

· Pupils late to lessons will be challenged and, if necessary, appropriate sanctions applied

· Lateness will be monitored

· Lateness may provide the basis for prosecution by the Education Welfare Service

Holidays (Leave of Absence)

Parents/carers must book their family holidays (leave of absence) during the School holidays. In exceptional circumstances, parents/carers may request pupil absence. Any such request must be made in writing to the Headteacher at least four School weeks prior to the start of the absent period requested.

The Headteacher will decide whether or not to authorise the absence. A decision will be made using the following information:

· The time of the absence ensuring that it would not prevent the child, for example, from missing any important examinations/assessments

· Changing Schools

Removing a pupil from the School roll:

· The date the pupil has left this School and started the next

· The address of the new School

· The new home address if known

The pupils school records will then be sent on to the new School as soon as possible. In the event that the Schools’ staff have not been given the above information, the family will be referred to the Education Welfare Service.

Registers

The registers will be marked in accordance with Wiltshire Council Guidance.

Absence Request

Please see the absence request form and Leave of Absence Guidance leaflet below:

Absence Request in Exceptional Circumstances Form

Penalty Notice Information

Letter Detailing Changes To Attendance Guidance