The Weatheralls School

Attendance Policy

Statement of Intent

With the intention of enabling all pupils to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them, The Weatheralls School aims to encourage excellent levels of attendance and punctuality.

Responsibilities

Parents are responsible in law for ensuring the regular and punctual attendance of their children.  Parents should familiarise themselves with this attendance policy and work closely with school staff to overcome any problems that might affect a child’s attendance.

The school will encourage and value high attendance rates.  The school will recognise the external factors which may influence pupil attendance and will work in partnership with parents, the Education Welfare Service and other relevant agencies to deal with any issues.  The school will take a proactive approach to the promotion of good attendance by defining expectations with pupils and their parents and will provide an effective and efficient system for monitoring attendance in accordance with legal requirements.

Procedures

Registration will be carried out promptly and registers returned to the school office within ten minutes of the start of morning and afternoon sessions.  Teachers will bring any attendance concerns to the attention of the headteacher.

Registers will be marked in accordance with the guidelines attached inside each register.

The attendance of all pupils is recorded and analysed by the school office using Sims Attendance Module software.

Absences for sickness or other unavoidable reasons will be recorded as authorized.  Other avoidable absences (such as shopping, day trips, birthday treats, holidays in term time organised on the basis of cost etc.) will be recorded as unauthorized.  The school recognizes that there are occasions when holidays in term time are unavoidable – during annual factory closure or for urgent and unforeseen circumstances for example. Such absences will be recorded as authorized.  Parents will be informed by letter if an absence is deemed to be unauthorized.

Parents are advised to contact the school on the first morning of any unforeseen absence so we can be assured of the whereabouts of the child and the nature of the absence.

A Leave of Absence Request form should be completed for all   absences known about in advance stating why the absence is unavoidable.

Late arrivals should be accompanied to reception by their parents and details recorded in the Lateness/Appointments book.

Communication

The Weatheralls School Attendance Policy will be communicated through:
a précis in the school prospectus
the home-school agreement
regular newsletter items
curriculum evenings for parents
guidance in the staff handbook

This policy will be reviewed annually.