Benwick Primary School aims to work together with Parent/Carers and the Local Authority Attendance Officers (LAAOs) to ensure that all children registered at school attend every day and on time, unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable. Regular attendance at school is vital. Absence means missed learning and without good attendance the learning process becomes fragmented and unsatisfactory. It is a legal requirement that students of compulsory school age receive full-time education and this, with the exception of those educated at home or elsewhere, means regular attendance at school. Irregular attendance leads to students missing important learning and therefore not fulfilling their true potential.
Parent/Carers must:
- Ensure all children registered at Benwick Primary School attend regularly and punctually everyday unless prevented from doing so by illness or medical appointment.
- Inform school in advance of any medical appointments during school time, parents will be asked to provide supporting evidence from the hospital, doctor or dentist, such as appointment details card/letter/text message in relation to the time requested.
- Ensure their child arrives at school in time for registration. Lateness is monitored and will be recorded as unauthorised after 8.55am.
Registration
- The gate is opened at 8.40am.
- The gate is locked at 8.45am.
- The gate is locked at 8.45am.
- Once the gate has been locked, entry to the school is via the office entrance.
- Registers are open at 8.40am and closed at 8.45am. Pupils who arrive at school after this time will be recorded as L, late on the register.
- Pupils who arrive at school after 8.55am, without an unavoidable reason, will have their lateness recorded as U, unauthorised late which then impacts on their overall attendance level.
Parent/Carers must contact school on the first and every subsequent day of absence by 9am. A message can be left on the absence line giving the student’s name, class and reason for absence or can be emailed to office@benwick.cambs.sch.uk .
For any pupil not present at the close of registration, and the reason is still unknown, a member of staff will attempt to make contact with the Parent/Carers once the registers have closed.
Non-attendance and the law
All parents have a legal duty to ensure that their child receives an education suitable to his/her age, ability and aptitude and any special needs. Most parents fulfil their legal obligation by registering their child in a school.
- Children must legally be in education between the school term after their fifth birthday and the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16.
- The Education and Skills Act 2008 increased the minimum age at which young people in England can leave learning. Raising the participation age means that young people must continue with some form of education or training until they are 18.
Non-attendance at school
It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure regular school attendance.
If your child’s attendance is unsatisfactory and failing to improve despite support from the school, the school will make a referral to the Local Authority.
Should it be considered that as a parent you are unwilling to ensure your child attends school regularly without good reason, you could be:
- parents may be subject to a Penalty fine of £160 (reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days). Non-payment of this fine will result in case being listed for prosecution in the Magistrate Court, without further warning being issued.
- prosecuted in a Magistrates Court and fined up to £2,500 and/or imprisoned for up to 3 months in accordance with the Education Act 1996 Section 444.
- made the subject of a Parenting Order.
- your child may be made the subject of an Education Supervision Order in the Family Court.
Guidance for Parents – Term Time Leave
The Government has removed the discretion for head teachers to agree term time leave requests. Due to the disruptive effect on a child’s education, you are strongly urged to avoid booking a family holiday during term-time.
Exceptional circumstances have not been dictated by the Government. Individual head teachers will make the final decision to authorise the leave.
Any requests for leave of absence need to be submitted before the leave is taken. Parents must complete a Leave of absence form and provide any supporting evidence, if applicable, with their request. This also applies to parents requesting to take their child out of school during the school day.
If the school suspect Term Time Leave has been taken but the parent/carers have not completed a leave of absence form, we will write to all parent/carers giving them an opportunity to clarify the reason for absence and provide supporting evidence. Failure to respond to or provide supporting evidence will result in a referral to the Local Authority for unauthorised leave from school and could be subject to a penalty notice/fine for pupils of statutory school age.