At Sound and District Primary School we are committed to providing the best educational experience for all children and good attendance and punctuality is critical to this outcome.
Each academic year has 190 school days, this leaves 175 non-school days for family time, holidays, visits and appointments.
If a pupil is absent for just 1 day each term that equals 6 days or 39 hours a year of lost learning.
What can you do to help?
- Let us know as soon as your child is absent and each day thereafter
- Make appointments during school holiday periods, at weekends, or outside of school hours
- Ensure your child attends school unless it is unavoidable
- Take holidays with your child outside of term time
Is my child too ill for school?
Sometimes, it can be difficult to decide whether your child is well enough for school. Children can still attend school with minor illness such as a cold or tummy ache; school will contact you if they become too ill to remain in school.
If you are unsure, please visit https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/ or contact school, your doctor or pharmacist for advice. Please phone school every morning that your child is absent so that their attendance records are kept accurate and up to date.
What can you do if you are worried about your child’s attendance?
If your child appears to be becoming anxious or worried about leaving you or about coming to school talk to your child; there may be a simple reason. We would also encourage you to talk to your child’s class teacher or a member of staff so we can resolve things together.
Promoting high attendance
We believe that school success goes hand in hand with high attendance. We encourage good attendance in school in various ways including but not limited to:
- Positive recognition for the class with the highest attendance each week; details are shared in our Weekly Highlights communication
- Celebrating those children with 100% attendance and those with good attendance at the end of each term.
Our Weekly Check completed by our Safeguarding Officers
Holidays during Term Time
Government guidelines are that parents should not take their children out of school during term time and that absences can only be considered to be authorised if there is an exceptional reason as to why that absence needs to take place during term time.
Should there be exceptional circumstances that mean the absence is absolutely unavoidable, you are required to complete a leave of absence request form. This should detail why the circumstances are exceptional circumstances.
Fixed Penalty Notices
Both an accumulation of unauthorised absences and/or persistent absenteeism can result in the issuing of fixed penalty notices from the local authority.
See below the information in regards to penalties for unauthorised absence :
| Timeline | One child | Two children | |
| Paid within 21 days | £80 per parent | £80 per child = £160 per parent | |
| After 21 days | £120 per parent | £120 per child = £240 per parent | |
| Next stages | A second penalty notice will be charged at a flat rate of £120 A third Fixed penalty notice may result in formal proceedings by the local authority . |
A copy of our Attendance Policy which has lots of extra information on our expectations, procedures and support for attendance be viewed on our Policies page.
How parents can help
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Find out the best way to get to school and what time school starts; to ensure that your child has the required time to get ready.
- Don’t let your child stay at home unless he/she is truly sick. Keep in mind complaints of a stomach ache or a headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, the office team, or other parents for advice on how to make her feel comfortable and excited about learning.
- Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbour, or another parent.
- Avoid medical appointments and extended trips during school term time.
For more information, visit http://www.attendanceworks.org/
Useful Sources of Information
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Cheshire East Attendance and Children Out of School Team
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Information about attendance in school and expectations in Cheshire East.
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schools/school-attendance/taking-children-out-of-school.aspx
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Young Minds
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Information, advice and resources to support if a child is anxious about attending school
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/school-anxiety-and-refusal/
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Children’s Commissioner
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Advice for parents on school attendance
https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/back-into-school/resources-for-families/ |
