School Attendance Information for Parents/Carers

It is through attendance that pupils maximise their full potential, enhancing their life chances for the future.  Missing school means missing out on learning and this can have an impact on a child’s development and attainment.  There is a strong statistical link between attendance and attainment.

The law states that children of statutory school age who are on roll at a school or academy must attend regularly and punctually.  Regular attendance is important, because it is the best way ensuring children make the most of the education opportunities available to them.

Parents and carers have a legal duty to ensure their children attend school regularly and punctually.  Failure to ensure a child’s regular attendance at the school where they are registered is a criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £1000 per parent per child (Section 444(1)) or in more serious cases (aggravated offence), a fine of up to £2500 per parent per child and/or up to 3 months imprisonment (Section 444 (A)).

Maximising School Attendance

• Children need to go to school regularly and punctually to make the most of their educational opportunities and parent/carers have a vital role in making that happen.

• Our attendance target is 95% and above.  If you are having trouble getting your child to go to school please contact us.  We will discuss the attendance issues with you and work together to put a plan in place.  Attendance letters will be sent home if your child’s attendance falls lower than 95%.

• School offers meeting and phone calls to discuss attendance issues.

• Develop consistent evening and morning routines with your child.

• Regularly talk to your child about their school day.

• Please try to book medical appointments afterschool and book holidays out of term time.

• Please call the office on 01442 262103 or send a message via the school gateway EVERY DAY if your child is unwell and unable to attend school. If your child is absent following registers being taken, an attendance message is then sent to the parents.

• Pupils need to arrive at school on time – the school day starts at 8:50am when classroom doors open.

Descripton	Threshold Attendance	Actual Attendance	Whole Days Absent	Learning Hours Lost
Excellent	100%	190 days	0	0
	99%	188 days	2	10
Good	98%	186 days	4	20
	97%	184 days	6	30
	96%	182.5 days	7.5	37.5
Satisfactory	95%	180.5 days	9.5	47.5
Cause for concern	90%	171 days	19	95
	89%	169 days	21	105
	88%	167 days	23	115
	87%	165 days	25	125
Unsatisfactory	86%	163 days	27	135
Serious Cause for Concern	85%	161.5 days	28.5	142.5
	84%	159.5 days	30.5	152.5
	83%	158 days	32	160
	82%	156 days	34	170
	81%	154 days	36	180
Critical	80%	152 days	38	190

Penalty Notice Process

School operates the Penalty Notice process for 15 or more unauthorised sessions of absences in the current or previous term.  On the 1^st February 2016 Hertfordshire County Council changed the penalty notice from 21 to 15 sessions of authorised absence in the current or previous term.  Please note a session is half day of authorised absence.  The Penalty Notice requires you to pay a fine of £60 within 21 days.  If this fine is not paid within the time limit the penalty rises to £120 which must be paid within 28 days.  (e.g two parents with two children could incur a total cost of £480).  If liable for prosecution for this offence.  Penalty Notices are administered by the local Authority and they have the responsibility for issuing them to parents and carers.

Requests for absence during term time

Amendments have been made to the 2006 regulations in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) regulations 2013.

The amendments make clear that head teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.  As a parent/guardian you are strongly urged to avoid booking holidays during term time.

If your child is absent from school because of a holiday which has not been agreed this will be classified as an unauthorised absence and this may lead to a Penalty Notice.

By taking family holidays during the designated holiday periods, you will be supporting your child’s full school attendance, learning and development.  There are 13 weeks of the year to take holidays out of term time.