ST. MARY’S R C JUNIOR SCHOOL
Attendance Policy
The staff of St Mary’s Junior School is committed, in partnership with the parents, pupils,
governors and the Local education Authority, to building a school which serves the
community commendably, and of which the community is proud.
The school staff, alongside the LEA, firmly believes that all pupils benefit from regular
school attendance. To this end we will do all we can to encourage parents/carers to
ensure that the children in their care achieve maximum possible attendance and that any
problems that prevent full attendance are identified and acted on promptly.
Expectations
We expect that all pupils will:
 Attend school regularly.
 Attend school punctually – arrive for a 9.00am start
 Attend school appropriately prepared for the day;
 Discuss promptly with their class teacher any problems that deter them from
attending school.
 Be picked up from school promptly at 3.30 at the end of the school day
We expect that all parents/carers/persons who have day-to-day responsibility for the
children will:
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Encourage regular school attendance and be aware of their legal responsibilities;
Ensure that the child/children in their care arrive at school punctually, prepared
for the school day;
Ensure that they contact the school whenever the child/children is unable to attend
school;
Contact the school on the first day of absence and send a note when they return;
Contact the school promptly whenever any problem occurs that may keep the
child away from school. This may include emotionally based school refusal issues
or bullying.
We expect that all staff will:
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Keep regular and accurate records of attendance for all pupils, at least twice daily;
Monitor every pupils’ attendance;
Contact parents as soon as possible when a pupil fails to attend where no message
has been received to explain the absence;
Follow up all unexplained absences to obtain notes authorising the absence;
Encourage good attendance;
Provide a welcoming atmosphere for children;
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Provide a safe learning environment;
Provide a sympathetic response to any pupil’s concerns and inform the
Headteacher of any issues affecting punctuality or attendance. The Headteacher
will then ensure that the most appropriate form of support is provided.
Ensure that any bullying is investigated and sanctions carried out as recorded in
the Behaviour Policy. ‘Bullying of any kind is not tolerated at St Mary’s (this
includes bullying through texting on mobile phones or electronically) Behaviour
Policy Sept 07-Sept 08: Page 2.
Make initial enquiries of parents/carers of pupils who are not attending regularly,
express their concern and clarify the school’s and the LEA’s expectations with
regard to regular attendance;
The LEA has a duty under the 2002 Education Act and the Local Authority in the
2004 Children Act to promote and safeguard the welfare of children. Children
who are not on a school roll and attending regularly are vulnerable and at risk of
significant harm.
Refer irregular or unjustified patterns of attendance to the Education Welfare
Service;
Meet, where possible, the requirements of the UN Convention – The Rights of the
Child, by ensuring that children are consulted in all decisions that relate to them.
Holidays
It is clear that term time holidays have a negative impact on school attendance figures as
well as disadvantaging individual pupils.
The School holiday dates are published well in advance and we strongly advise
parents/carers to book their family holidays during the school holidays.
If a family holiday in term time is unavoidable the parent must write to the Headteacher
explaining why. The Headteacher will then decide whether or not to authorise the
absences using the following criteria when considering a request for a leave of absence
for family holidays:
 It is not during an examination period
 It is not in Year 6
 The pupil has 100% attendance and punctuality record so far in year
 The family has not made a previous request
 Pupil’s work and conduct are of an acceptable standard
Headteachers, on behalf of the Governors, can grant leave, at their discretion, for up to
two weeks in any school year. No parents/carers can demand leave of absence for their
child/children as a right.
If parents take children on holiday in term time without authorisation from the school
they are referred to the Education Welfare officer who informs the LA. This will then
result in the issue of a Fixed Penalty Notice and the possibility of court action.
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Encouraging Attendance
St. Mary’s School encourages regular attendance in the following ways:
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The member of the SMT responsible for monitoring attendance and punctuality is
Mrs Anne Pendry
By providing a caring and welcoming learning environment;
By providing rewards for good attendance and punctuality;
By responding promptly to a child’s or parents concerns about the school or other
pupils;
By marking registers accurately and punctually during morning and afternoon
registration. If pupils arrive after 9am (when the gate is locked) but before
9.15am they will go in the late book. If pupils arrive after the close of the register
(9.15) without a written explanation, the lateness will be recorded. Persistent
lateness will be investigated with a letter sent from the Headteacher; If the pupil
has 5 or more lates, after registration has closed, in any half term period, a fixed
penalty notice will be issued.
If a pupil is picked up during a truancy patrol a fixed penalty notice will be
considered.
If parenting contracts have not been complied with or have been ineffective or
parents have refused to enter into a contract concerning their child’s attendance a
fixed penalty notice will be considered.
By publishing attendance statistics in the Governors’ AGM report;
By reminders in the Headteacher’s weekly newsletter;
Provide an excellent standard of teaching;
Ensure that pupils’ welfare is at the heart of all policies and procedures;
By monitoring pupils, informing parents/carers in writing of irregular attendance,
arranging meetings with them if necessary and referring the family to the
Education Welfare Service if the irregular attendance continues.
By issuing a certificate to pupils who achieve 100% attendance in a year.
Responding to concerns
When a pupil does not attend school we will respond in the following manner:
 On the first day of absence, preferably, please telephone the school office but
definitely notify us before three days have elapsed.
 The school will telephone for reason for absence on the first day of illness.
 If on the third day there still has been no contact made, the school will send a
letter of concern regarding attendance.
 Should there be no response to the letter to explain the absence the School is
required to inform their Education Welfare Officer.
 Failure to comply with the expectations set by the EWO may result in further
action.
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Changing Schools
It is important that if families decide to send the child/children in their care to a different
school that they inform St. Mary’s School staff as soon as possible. A pupil will not be
removed from this school roll until the following information has been received:
 The date the pupil will be leaving this school and starting the next;
 The address of the new school;
 The new home address, if it is known.
 The school will inform the LEA when taking a pupil off role.
The pupil’s school records will then be sent on to the new school as soon as possible. In
the event that the school has not been informed of the above information, the family will
be referred to the Education Welfare Service.
Monitoring Attendance
St. Mary’s School staff will monitor pupil attendance in the following ways:
 Accurate completion of registers by school staff, including using appropriate
codes for absence and any concerns passed on to the Headteacher.
 Class Teachers will follow up on unauthorised absence by reminding the pupil
about letters from their parent/carer.
 Admin staff will follow up pupils where unauthorised absence continues to be
unexplained.
 Registers will be monitored termly by the Headteacher and concerns will be
addressed by sending a letter to the parent/carer.
 Unresolved concerns will be passed on to the Education Welfare Officer.
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