How we monitor attendance and punctuality

Response to absence 

 

If any child is absent from school and the school has not been notified about the child’s absence, school will attempt to contact the parent/ carer on the first morning. 

 

If the parent notifies the school of a child’s reason for absence, but the child continues to be absent for more than three days, then an update check will be made by the school in the form of a phone call and medical evidence may be required. 

 

 

If the child continues to be absent the Attendance Support Worker or Family Support Worker will either carry out a home visit or consider a referral to the Attendance Service or the School Nurse. 

 

Whenever the school is unable to contact a parent or carer of most vulnerable children – perhaps because of inaccurate/ outdated contact details - the Attendance Support Worker  or the Family Support Worker would be asked to carry out a home visit. 

 

If a reason is not given for an absence the Attendance Support Worker will contact parents for an explanation.  

 

Any absence considered not to be a justified reason will remain unauthorised. A series of unauthorised absences will trigger a meeting with the Headteacher, Family Support Worker or the Attendance Support Worker. 

 

If an Attendance Contract is in place or there are concerns regarding a child’s school attendance, medical evidence may be required from the first day of absence. 

 

 

Where children have persistent attendance problems, the Headteacher or the Attendance Support Worker will invite parents/carers into school to a formal meeting.  We follow Local Authority guidelines on monitoring attendance. If absence rates are persistently low and school has concerns that the child’s needs are not being met, a referral to Children’s Social Care may be made. 

 

 

 

Lateness: 

 

School starts at 8.55 am and finishes at 3.25pm. School doors are closed 5 minutes after registration.

 

Lateness is classed as any child coming into school five minutes after their arranged start time.  

 

All children arriving after their start time will have minutes late recorded on the class electronic register. 

Arriving more than 30 minutes after registration may be classed as an unauthorised absence. 

Lateness is monitored regularly. Where children are persistently late, the Headteacher, Attendance Support Worker or Family Support Worker will invite the parents into school to a formal meeting. 

 

 

Changes to legal guidance for schools took effect on the 19th August and the main points are outlined in the leaflet from the Attendance Service (please see attached). Fines are increasing and there are stricter guidelines in place for schools to monitor attendance.