Attendance

Policy Statement

Good attendance is essential if pupils are to make good progress and gain the appropriate skills, which will equip them for life. Findern Primary School sets itself a target of 97%. Our annual attendance for this year (2022) was 95.99%.

If your child is not able to attend school you should contact the office on the morning of the absence by phone or in person. A letter detailing the absence should be sent into school on the day of return.

If a child arrives late they should report to the office.

Absence is regularly monitored by the Headteacher and where a child’s attendance falls below 95% without good reason, parents will be contacted. We will deal with any persistent absence sensitively but without compromising the expectations of the school. Where a child's absence falls below 90% the head teacher will meet with parents and if necessary seek the support of outside agencies. If a child's absence is not improved school will make a referral to the Education Welfare Officer.

In September 2013 the Education (Pupil Registration England Amendment) Regulations 2013 came into force and was amended in 2016. These regulations make it clear that Headteachers should not grant approval for any leave of absence during term-time, including holidays unless the absence is for ‘exceptional circumstances.’ Any requests for absence should be made on the school absence request form available from the school office and handed into the office prior to any holiday/absence arrangements being made. You may be issued with a Penalty Notice should leave be taken which is not authorised. If unpaid this could lead to prosecution under section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996. It is an expectation that parents/carers take family holidays in the 13 weeks that children have for such purposes and not during the 39 school weeks. Derbyshire County Council issue a penalty notice for absence due to holidays. Where there are exceptional circumstance for absence parents/carers should explain these to the Headteacher in writing.