Attendance

Information

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY

Constant monitoring of children's attendance

At The Python Hill Academy we view excellent attendance and punctuality as vitally important for the learning and progress of the children. Your child’s time at school is very valuable, they only get the chance once! It is therefore very important that they miss as little school as possible.

Research shows that children who have good school attendance are more likely to do well in the future. Regular attendance also helps children to develop their confidence and make and keep lasting friendships.

Improving Attendance remains one of our biggest target areas as an Academy and as such we celebrate good attendance.

ATTENDANCE REWARD SYSTEM

Promoting attendance and punctuality

Weekly

At the end of each week the class with the highest attendance receive the attendance trophy to keep in their class for the following week. We have a racing track on the wall in the hall for each class. The class with the highest attendance moves their car along the track.

Half Termly

Each half term, children that have been to school everyday get a 100% attendance certificate.

An attendance prize is given out to each class each half term. A raffle ticket is chosen from each class box from the tickets the children have put in weekly. We give prizes such a book vouchers, tickets to the cinema or play center as well as games.

Thank you for your support in getting your child into school on time everyday.

From September 2013 the Principal no longer has the authority to authorise absences for the purpose of taking a family holiday except in exceptional circumstances. We therefore ask parents and carers to avoid booking holidays during term time. The school will be closed for an extra ‘Inset’ week each year. This will give parents/carers the opportunity to take a holiday during term time when there would be potential cost savings. As a result of this there will be a zero tolerance approach towards parents taking their children out of school at any other time. If however you believe there are exceptional reasons why your child needs to be absent from school you need to complete a Leave of Absence Application Form, which is available from our Attendance Officer.

A child who is absent from school for 2 weeks (10 days) will have less than 95% attendance for that year before taking into account any further days lost due to illness.

Where a child’s level or pattern of absences becomes a concern we will discuss this with the parent or carer and may involve the Targeted Support Service.

Roles & Responsibilities

The Python Hill Academy

To ensure parents/carers understand the importance of punctuality and attendance.
To monitor attendance and punctuality weekly.
To contact parents/carers if no reason has been received for a child’s absence.
To inform parents/carers if a child’s attendance falls below 90% or if poor punctuality is having a significant effect upon a child’s education.
To write and meet parents if attendance is poor or punctuality does not improve after initial letter.
To offer advice and support families.
To contact Family Services/Local Authority if unauthorised absences persist.
To provide a range of incentives to encourage excellent attendance. Currently they include, certificates, class medals, a Family Prize Draw and competitions

Roles & Responsibilities

Parents & Carers

To ensure your child attends every day unless they are unwell.
To inform the academy by telephone on the FIRST day of absence because of illness, and everyday that follows.
Try and arrange Medical appointments outside of the academy day.
Where medical appointments cannot be taken out of academy hours medical evidence is taken to the school office to authorise the absence.
To bring and collect your children promptly. If your child is late they must be signed into the academy at the main office.
Holidays are avoided during term time.
A letter to the Principal is sent at least one month in advance if you believe it is unavoidable to take your child on holiday during term time.
Ensure that the academy is informed if someone different will be collecting your child.

Important Statistics

95% attendance means that your child has missed two weeks of school.
90% attendance means that your child has missed four weeks of school/half a day every week.
80% attendance means that your child has missed eight weeks of school.
Attendance of below 90% over five years is equivalent to your child missing half a year of school.
Attendance below 80% over five years means that your child misses a whole year of school.

Research suggests that 17 missed school days a year equals a drop in GCSE grade (Department for children, schools and families).
Only a quarter of pupils will achieve GCSE grades A to C if their attendance is below 90%.
Pupils who are frequently absent from school are more likely to become involved or be a victim of crime and anti-social behaviour.
Poor attendance suggests to future employers that the individual is unreliable. Get into good habits early.
Missing 10% (about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
One of the most effective ways for providing pathways out of poverty is by doing what it takes to get children into school every day.

Attendance

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY

ATTENDANCE REWARD SYSTEM

Weekly

Half Termly

Roles & Responsibilities

Roles & Responsibilities

Important Statistics

Schools of The Forge Trust

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