Policy Documentation:
Pupil Attendance & Punctuality
OUR VISION
To meet 97% target for attendance and 100% for punctuality.
Responsibility for Review: Principal
Approved by Governors: 18th June 2015
Date of Next Review: September 2016
Statement of Policy:
‘Central to raising standards in education and ensuring pupils fulfil their potential is an assumption so
widely understood that it is insufficiently stated –pupils need to attend school regularly to benefit from
their education. Missing out on lessons leaves children vulnerable to falling behind. Children with poor
attendance tend to achieve less in both primary and secondary school’.
School Attendance: Statutory guidance and departmental advice, DFE Aug 2013
The Academy is committed to ensuring that students and parents understand the absolute importance of
full attendance at the Academy. We expect the highest attendance and punctuality from all pupils, at all
times. We support pupils and their families to ensure that excellent attendance is achieved.
Overall Aims:
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To ensure that every child is safeguarded and their right to education is protected.
To strive to achieve the school attendance target of 97% and punctuality of 100%, through
celebration and collaboration with children and parents.
To raise standards and ensure every child reaches their full educational potential, through a high
level of school attendance and punctuality.
To ensure all the stakeholders, governors, parents, pupils and staff receive regular communication,
about the importance of good attendance and punctuality.
To keep accurate, up-to-date records and have a robust and rigorous system for analysing
attendance.
To identify causes of low attendance/punctuality with individuals, classes and groups of pupils and
address them.
To work with parents and the Educational Social Worker, in order to address barriers to attendance
and punctuality and overcome them.
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Parents:
Children should only be kept at home if they have a serious illness or injury. If this is the case, parents
should contact the school first thing. If a child has a minor illness e.g. mild headache, stomach-aches etc.
parents should inform the school and bring them in, if they don’t school will contact parents straight
away. If pupils’ have a dental, clinic or hospital appointment, parents should let the school know. Pupils’
should only be out of school for the duration of the appointment. Pupils should miss as little time as
possible.
Therefore, parents are expected to:
Ensure their child attends school and arrives on time every day.
 Promote a good attitude to learning by ensuring their children attend school in the correct
uniform and with the basic equipment required for lessons.

Not arrange medical and dental appointments in school time wherever possible.

Telephone to inform the school to on the first day of absence for their child.

Provide a written or verbal explanation of absence, including dates of absence as soon as their
child returns to school.

Work in partnership with the school and other agencies in the best interests of their child; this
includes informing the school about significant influences and changes in the child’s life, which
may impact on learning.
Attendance is monitored on a daily basis and all concerns are raised with our Educational Social Worker.
First day absence calls and home visits are a vital part of our duty to ensure that children are safe. Liaison
with other agencies including the Local Authority and Children’s Social Care is a statutory duty to make
sure that Child Protection and other safeguarding concerns are identified early and support is offered to
families.
Punctuality is important for pupils to have a good start to their learning for the day. Often the key
information is shared at the start of lessons and children who miss this input are at a disadvantage. If a
child has more than 2 late arrivals in a week they will receive reminders. Breakfast Club is open from 8 am
each morning to assist parents who may struggle to otherwise bring children on time.
Strategies for promoting good attendance and punctuality
Meet and Greet: From 8:25 am the entrance doors are open with learning taking place during
registration. Leadership and pastoral team members are in the playground to welcome pupils and speak
to parents. Lessons start promptly at 8:40 am. Cloakroom doors close at 8:40 am, from this time pupils
will need to go to the office for their register mark and will be recorded as late.
Weekly Assembly: Every week the whole school shares the attendance of each class. Classes that
achieve their targets gain a star on the central attendance display board. Each Key Stage has a trophy for
the class with the best attendance that week. We regularly reinforce why attendance and punctuality are
important.
Central School display: A central display will be used in school to celebrate good attendance and
punctuality. A whole school poster (appendix) detailing the % to days will also be used so that pupils can
clearly see the relationship between the % figure and number of days absent.
Attendance letters: At the end of each term parents will receive an attendance and punctuality letter.
The letter details attendance to date, how many un-authorised attendances and the number of late
arrivals to date. Each letter is colour coded – green letters show that pupils’ attendance is good, orange
letters show that pupil attendance could improve and red letters show that attendance is a concern.
Celebration: At the end of each term all pupils who have gained 95% attendance are awarded a
certificate and parents are invited to join the celebration. Details are posted on the academy website.
Class Reward: At the end of each term the class with the highest overall attendance is rewarded with a
special lunch or a tablet for the class as chosen by the children.
100% for the Year: At the end of each year we also celebrate all pupils who have gained 100%
attendance for the whole year. Parents are invited and presented with a gift to acknowledge their key
contribution to getting their children to school every day.
Extended Holidays
In line with Dixons Multi Academy Trust, leave for pupils during term time is not authorised. We only
have children for 190 days per year and believe in line with the statutory DfE guidance that the remaining
time is sufficient to arrange holidays and other family events without taking time off during term time.
The Academy recognises that taking children out of school may constitute a safeguarding risk and will
make necessary enquiries, in order to be satisfied that the child is not at risk. The school may contact
outside agencies in order to ensure that a visit is legitimate and safe for the child.
Authorised absences will only be agreed when they are short and circumstances are rare, unavoidable
and significant for example a family crisis such as a life threatening illness or death of a parent or sibling.
Individual circumstances can be discussed with the principal.
If you have exceptional circumstances, which lead you to request leave in term time for your child/ren,
please complete the required form, which you can obtain from the school office. The maximum amount
of time allowed to be authorised is no more than 5 days.
Where pupils take more than 5 days unauthorised leave, the Academy will work with Bradford Council to
issue a penalty notice. If unauthorised absence reaches 20 days the pupil will be removed from the
school register. Parents will then need to apply for a place through Bradford Council, there is no
guarantee that the child will be allocated a place at the same school they left.
“In the case of regular or persistent absence without permission, the academy must refer the case to
the Local Authority which will consider prosecution”. Bradford Council advice to Academies February
2014
Regular Un-authorised Absence
The Education Act 1996 says that:
“If a child of compulsory school age who is a registered pupil at a school, fails to attend regularly
at the school, his parent is guilty of an offence”.
There are two offences relating to parental responsibility for ensuring regular attendance at school or
alternative provision:
1) If a registered pupil is absent without authorisation then the parent is guilty of an offence under
Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996. A conviction for this offence can result in a fine of up
to £1,000.
2) If the parent knows that their child is failing to attend regularly at the school and fails to cause
him to do so, he is guilty of an offence under Section 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996. This is
known as an aggravated offence. A conviction for this offence may result in a substantial fine
up to a maximum of £2,500 and/or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months and/or a
community penalty.
Most prosecutions undertaken by academies will be under Section 444(1).
When pupils have un-authorised absences of 5 or more days within a 6 week period, the Academy will
work with parents in order to improve attendance. If attendance does not improve within a given time
frame the Academy may refer parents for prosecution.
Penalty Notices
On receipt of a penalty notice request the Local Authority will, acting within the Code of Conduct:

Issue a penalty notice warning letter. This advises the parent that if any unauthorised absence
occurs in the next 20 school days then a penalty notice will be issued and gives details of the
payment required.
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At the end of 20 days check with the school if there have been any unauthorised absence and
issue a penalty notice to the parent(s) if necessary.

The notice requires payment of £60 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days. If not paid within
21 days the payment doubles to £120 per parent, per child. There is then a further 7 days to pay.

If the notice remains unpaid the Local Authority will commence prosecution proceedings under
Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996.
Local Authority Responsibility
The Local Authority will be responsible for the following:
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Completing and submitting all administrative documentation with regard to the court process and
securing a hearing date.
Serving the summons on the parent(s).
Attending court on behalf of the academy and presenting the case to the magistrates (including
initial hearings, adjournments and sentencing).
Ensure all parties are kept informed of dates and outcomes.
If parents have any questions regarding attendance, the Parental Involvement Officer and Educational
Social Worker will be able to answer most queries. The office staff and Principal are able to discuss
individual circumstances as required.
Appendices:
Warning letters
Table of procedures to promote good attendance and punctuality
Poster relating days absent to attendance percentage.
Appendix 1 – Meeting in School Invite Letter
Dear
Re: (Pupil name) (DOB)
Any child with below 90% attendance is considered by the Department for Education to be a “persistent
absentee”. For persistent absentees the school is expected to have plans in place to both support the
children and to improve their attendance. Your child’s attendance is now only (--) %. This could be due to
illness, holidays in term time or unauthorised absence.
We would like to offer you an opportunity to improve your child’s attendance with support from the school.
We have arranged a meeting at school for:
(Day/Date/Time)
If you want to talk about this meeting please contact me.
.
Yours sincerely
Appendix 2 – Second Invite to a Meeting
Dear
Re: (Pupil name) (DOB)
You were recently invited to a meeting at school to talk about improving (pupil name)’s attendance.
Unfortunately you did not attend this meeting and did not contact school to discuss this.
A further meeting has been arranged at school for:
(day/date/time)
It is important that you co-operate with efforts to improve (pupil name)’s attendance if legal proceedings
are to be avoided. For your information I am enclosing a copy of your child’s current attendance
certificate. Please also see the enclosed “Notice to Parents or Guardians” which warns you of the
possibility criminal proceedings in the Magistrates Court and gives details of the legislation and possible
penalties.
We would like to avoid referring to the Local Authority requesting legal proceedings and hope that you will
now co-operate with efforts to meet to discuss the situation.
Yours sincerely
Appendix 3 – Final Warning Letter Regarding Possible Legal Proceeding
Dear
Re: Attendance (Pupil name) (DOB) Year
Unfortunately you have failed to co-operate with recent efforts to meet with you to discuss your
child/children’s attendance.
Or
Unfortunately you have failed to co-operate with recent plans to improve your child’s attendance.
We will now be monitoring (pupil name)’s attendance for 4 weeks from (day/date) to (day/date). If there
are unauthorised absences during this period we will be submitting a referral to the Local Authority
requesting legal proceedings.
It is important if your child is ill during this period that you to discuss this with school as soon as possible.
Prior to authorising any absences we need you to provide proof that your child is ill such as an
appointment card or prescribed medication.
Please see the enclosed “Notice to Parents or Guardians” which warns you of possible criminal
proceedings In the Magistrates Court and gives details of the legislation and possible penalties.
If you would like advice and support to improve your child’s attendance please contact me.
Yours sincerely
Appendix 4 – Notice to Parents and Guardians Warning of Legal Responsibilities and
Possible Outcomes.
Education Act 1996, (as amended)
NOTICE TO PARENTS OR GUARDIANS
To
«Name»
of
«address»
TAKE NOTICE that, having failed to cause your child «Childsname» who being of compulsory school age
and a registered pupil at «school» to attend school regularly, you have rendered yourself liable to criminal
proceedings in the Magistrates Court under the provisions of Section 444 (1) of the Education Act 1996
(as amended), and
TAKE NOTICE that knowing that your child is failing to attend school regularly, and failing without
reasonable justification to cause «himorher» to do so, you may have rendered yourself liable to criminal
proceedings in the Magistrates Court under Section 444 (1A) Education Act 1996 (as amended).
Your child may also be brought before the Family Proceedings Court for an Education Supervision Order
under Section 36 of the 1989 Children Act and/or a Parenting Order under the Crime and Disorder Act
1998.
THIS WARNING is issued in the hope that there may be no necessity to take further steps to enforce the
law.
SHOULD, HOWEVER, THIS WARNING BE DISREGARDED, YOU MAY BE SUMMONED WITHOUT
FURTHER NOTICE.
Note: Upon summary conviction for an offence under Section 444 (1) Education Act 1996 (as amended)
you are liable to a fine of £1,000. A conviction for an offence under Section 444 (1A) Education Act 1996
(as amended) may result in a substantial fine up to a maximum of £2,500 and/or a term of imprisonment
not exceeding three months.
Yours sincerely
Name:
Principal
Date: ............................................
Appendix 5 - Blank Statement of Witness
STATEMENT OF WITNESS
CJ Act,1967, s9; MC Act 1980. ss5A (3) (a) and 58: Criminal Procedure Rules 2010,
STATEMENT OF
(Name)
AGE
(if over 21 enter "over 21")
OCCUPATION
(enter job title)
ADDRESS
(give school address)
Rule 27.1
This statement (consisting of (enter page quantity) page/s each signed by me) is true to the best of my
knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I
have wilfully stated in it anything which I know to be false or do not believe to be true.
I, (name) have been employed as a (job title) at (school) from (date) to the present time.
(Parent name) and (parent name) are the parents of (pupil name) who is aged (age) and is of compulsory
school age until (date).
Attached to this statement is a Principal’s Certificate of Attendance which covers the period from (date) to
(date). This shows that (pupil name) attended for (number) sessions out of a possible (number) sessions.
Of the (number) sessions absent (number) of these sessions were unauthorised. The certificate has been
signed by (name) of (school).
Summary of Involvement
Date: (date)
Name: (name)
Signed: ………………………
Appendix 6 - Procedures used by the school in order to promote excellent attendance:
Daily procedures
By whom
Outcomes / action
Parents ensure pupils arrive at school on time ready for Parents /
lessons
carers
Pupils are ready to learn
Parents inform the school by 8.40 am, if their child is
absent that day
Office staff take messages and calls.
Classroom staff pass on verbal
information.
Parents /
carers
Pupils arriving late to school are registered at reception: Office
after 8.40 am
Absence mark on SIMS amended to a late
mark
Staff record attendance using SIMS system. This is done Classroom PIO and office staff ensure all registers are
by 8.40 am for morning attendance. From 8:40 until 9:10 staff
completed
pupils will be marked late.
1st day absence phone calls are made to identify reason Office
for absence by 10am
Office updates attendance codes
Parents provide a written or verbal explanation for any
child’s absence on first day of return
Parents
Admin staff collate explanations and add
to SIMs
Weekly procedures
By whom
Outcomes / action
Attendance/punctuality statistics produced and shared Office
in Celebration Assembly, displayed on the School
Attendance Boards and website
All can see which classes have reached
their attendance target and the number
of lates that week.
Pupils who have 2 or more lates during the week are
written to and get text reminders.
Absence codes for individuals are updated using SIMS
to identify reason for absence
For the next week parents get a reminder
text about punctuality at 8am
Information provided here is used to
provide targeted interventions
Office
PIO
Half termly and termly procedures
Analyse attendance/punctuality data to
monitor trends and progress
By whom
Assemblies to promote attendance/punctuality and
share term’s data and progress
PIO/VP
Celebration certificates and rewards
Individual attendance/punctuality discussed with pupils
and families, at parents’ evenings.
Analyse attendance/punctuality data and information to
identify cases of concern and develop appropriate
interventions.
Class
teachers
VP/PIO/ES
W
Mentoring and advice on attendance/
punctuality issues provided to all families.
Targeted intervention
for individual concerns.
Attendance Team Meeting to discuss individual cases,
monitor progress and refer new concerns. Support and
meeting provided for pupils and families.
Review success and impact of Attendance / punctuality
strategies for the term and report to Principal
Meeting with parents to share
P/VP
PIO/ESW concerns and develop a support plan
Parents
P/VP/HSLO Amend and refine interventions as
appropriate
Identify cases that require a penalty notice; either for
extended holidays or un-authorised absences.
Outcomes / action
PIO / VP / Pupils below 91% and / or persistent lates
ESW
are considered for referral to ESW.
P / VP /
HSLO /ESW
Cases referred to Local Authority for fixed
penalty fines
GOOD ATTENDANCE MEANS...
Being in school at least 97% of the time.
This means no more than 5 days off in the
year!
There are 175 non-school days a year!
All this time for shopping, holidays and appointments
0 days
absence
190 school days a year
190 school
days
attended
100%
5 days
absence
185 school
days
attended
97%
Best Chances of Success
“Well Done”
10 days
absence
180 school
days
attended
94%
15 days
absence
175 schools
days
attended
92%
Attendance a concern –
less chance of Success
“I’m worried”
Our School Target is 97%
20 days
absence
170 school
days
attended
89%
28 days
absence
162 school
days attended
85%
Very poor attendance –
serious impact on education
and reduces life chances
“I’m seriously concerned”