This document is a statement of the philosophy and strategies for Attendance at The Archbishop Lanfranc School. It was reviewed during the autumn term 2008 through consultation with teaching staff and approved by the Governing Body. It will be reviewed again in the summer term 2009.
The staff of The Archbishop Lanfranc School are 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.
School staff, together with the LEA, believe that all pupils benefit from regular school attendance. We will encourage and support parents/carers in ensuring their children maximise their educational opportunities through regular attendance, and that any difficulties that impact upon attendance are identified and acted upon promptly.
Designated teacher with overall responsibility for attendance - Ms J McCarthy
Expectations
We expect that all pupils will:
- attend school regularly;
- attend school punctually;
- attend school appropriately prepared for the day;
- 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 the child's absence;
- contact the school promptly whenever any problem occurs that may keep the child away from school.
- keep regular and accurate records of attendance for all pupils, at least twice daily;
- monitor every pupil's 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; provide a safe learning environment; provide a sympathetic response to any pupil's concerns
- 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 school attendance;
- refer irregular or unjustified patterns of attendance to Education Welfare.
The taking of leave during school time is not a right and can only be taken with the leave of the Governing Body. The school holiday dates are published a year in advance and we therefore do not see any reason for parents to take their child/ren out of school during term time. All applications must be received at the school not less than 3 weeks before the intended period of leave.
The Head Teacher on behalf of the Governing Body will decide whether or not to authorise the absence based on the following criteria:-
- The child's record of attendance in the previous 12 months has not fallen below 93%
- The child is not taking public examinations i.e. SATs or GCSEs (Years 9 & 11)
- There are exceptional circumstances that over-ride (1) & (2). Booking flights or holidays prior to gaining permission are not seen as exceptional circumstances
Only one period of leave will be granted in any one school year
If leave is taken without the authority then the Local Authority will be requested to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice in the sum of £50 to each parent.
Encouraging Attendance
The Archbishop Lanfranc School encourages regular attendance in the following ways:
- by providing a caring and welcoming learning environment;
- by responding promptly to a child's or parent's concerns about the school or other pupils;
- by publishing and displaying attendance statistics;
- by celebrating good and improved attendance;
- by monitoring pupils, informing parents/carers in writing of irregular attendance, arranging meetings with them if necessary and referring the family to Education Welfare Service(EWS) if the irregular attendance continues.
Responding To Non-Attendance
The school register opens at 8.20am, when students are expected to be present, and closes at 8.50am. If a student arrives after the close of the register, they are given an attendance mark for health and safety reasons, but are regarded in law as being absent. If a child persistently attends schools after the close of the register the matter will be referred to the Education Welfare Service for consideration to be given to (a) the issue of a Fixed Penalty Notice in the sum of £50 or (b) a prosecution. Lateness not only affects the learning of the student in question, but also affects the learning of others.
When a pupil does not attend school we will respond in the following manner:
- On the first day of absence, if no note or telephone call is received from the parent/carer by 11 a.m. the school will endeavour to contact them that day. If the family are not on the telephone, a letter will be sent.
- If there is no response, the school will continue to try to contact the parent/carer. If by the end of the second day, there has still been no contact made, (third day if waiting for a response to a letter), the school will send a letter of concern to parents/carers or invite them into school to discuss child’s absence. The school will tell parents that if the absence persists that a referral will be made to EWS.
- Failure to comply with the expectations set by EWS may result in further action, an application for an Education Supervision Order, or court prosecution.
Changing schools
It is important that if families decide to send the child/children in their care to a different school that they inform The Archbishop Lanfranc School office staff as soon as possible. A pupil will not be removed from this school roll until the following information has been received and investigated:
- 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 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.
School Organisation
In order for the school's Attendance Policy to be successful, every member of staff must make attendance a high priority and convey this to the pupils at all times. Parents/carers need to support these views in the home to ensure that children are receiving corresponding messages about the value of education.
In addition to this, the School has the following responsibilities:
Head Teacher, Governors and designated member of school staff with overall responsibility for attendance to:
- adopt the whole policy;
- ensure that the registration procedures are carried out efficiently and that appropriate resources are provided;
- initiate a scheme for contacting parents on the first day of absence;
- ensure that key staff have time-tabled periods for liaison and follow-up work with EW and appropriate access to attendance data;
- consult and liaise closely with EWS on a regular basis and take responsibility for ensuring appropriate pupils are identified and referred without delay;
- to work in close collaboration with EWS during their termly/half termly register analysis;
- set whole school attendance targets;
- monitor and evaluate attendance with EWS.
Office Staff:
- to oversee the registration process and ensure that registers are completed accurately and punctually;
- to liaise with EWS regularly;
- to reinforce good practice at staff meetings;
- to share the Class Teacher’s concerns regarding the early identification of disaffection with the Education Welfare Officer.
Class teachers:
- to complete registers accurately and punctually at least twice daily;
- to record all reasons for absences in the register;
- to inform the Headteacher of concerns;
- to be alert to early signs of disaffection which could culminate in non-attendance and to report these concerns as soon as possible to the Head of Year or JMC.