The Importance of Regular School Attendance

The Woodland Federation of Peak District Schools believes that for children to flourish and achieve their true potential, good attendance is essential. Pupils cannot fully flourish and achieve their true potential if they do not regularly attend school.

Poor attendance is the single most significant factor in underachievement. If a child is absent from school, then they are missing learning.

Good attendance at school shows potential employers that a young person is reliable. Young people who are frequently absent from school are more likely to become involved in, or be a victim of crime and anti-social behaviour. It is important to instil habits of good attendance and punctuality in children from the start of their school journey.  

School Attendance and the Law

We are committed to:
• Following the framework set in Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 which states that:

‘the parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him / her to receive efficient full-time education suitable:-

(a) to age, ability and aptitude and
(b) to any special educational needs he/ she may have

Either by regular attendance at school or otherwise’.

• Promoting and modelling good attendance behaviour.
• Ensuring equality and fairness of treatment for all.
• Implementing our policies within the Equality Act
• Early intervention and working with other agencies to ensure the health and safety of our pupils
• Rewarding regular attendance.

First Day of Absence

Please call school on 01433 630520 between 8.15am and 9.15am to let us know that your child will not be in school and the reason why.

It is important to note that schools are not obliged to mark an absence as authorised if we do not think the reason given is acceptable. 

Punctuality

Punctuality is very important. Children need to arrive at school in good time, ready to start learning. Children who are not on time for school risk falling behind as they miss important learning time. It can be distressing for children to arrive late and have to join a lesson that has already started. 

Please remember that we open our doors at:

Stoney Middleton: 8.50am

The table below shows the impact of being late each day over the course of the school year.

Attendance Targets 

Attendance is monitored on a weekly basis by members of the senior leadership team. Because we have children who attend on full time a flexi-school basis, attendance targets vary. Please see below for minimum attendance expectations. 

Rewarding Good Attendance

Each half term, children whose attendance is at or above the 96.1% (or equivalent for flexi-schooled children) are rewarded with a wrist band for their good attendance. Each term, we start afresh so everyone has an equal chance of being rewarded a wristband. 

Children whose attendance is above 96.1% (or flexi school equivalent) for the whole academic year, will be rewarded with a rainbow wristband at the end of the summer term.

Children whose attendance is 100% for any half term will be given a certificate. 

Persistent Absence 

Our pupil attendance target is a minimum of 96.1%.  Anything below this could have a detrimental effect on your child’s academic progress and personal development.

Attendance below 90% - or 90% of three or four days for a child who attends on a flexi school basis - at any point during the school year is categorised as being Persistently Absent (PA) regardless of reasons.  Schools are required to monitor and act to improve the attendance of such pupils.

When your child's attendance falls into thie category, we will invite you to an attendance panel meeting. In this meeting, we will devise a plan to improve your child's attendance and look at reasons for absence. We will look at ways in which we can support you with possible unmet medical needs or emotional issues. 

Parents or Carers are ultimately responsible for their child’s poor attendance. Please be aware that routinely poor attendance could lead to a fixed penalty notice if there are no legitimate medical reasons known to school to condone regular absences.

Term Time Leave of Absence

The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 as amended by Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2013 state:

Head Teachers shall not grant any leave of absence during term time unless:

• An application has been made in advance, by the parent with whom the child normally resides AND
• They consider there to be exceptional circumstances relating to the application.

It is not possible to produce a list of what is considered an exceptional circumstance. All requests are treated on an individual basis.

Examples of circumstances that may not be considered exceptional are:

• Availability of cheap holidays and cheap travel arrangements
• Days overlapping with the beginning or end of term

To make an application for leave of absence during term time, parents/carers should speak to the headteacher and complete a leave of absence form clearly detailing reasons for absence.  This will then be considered.

Applications cannot be granted retrospectively.