Attendance
The Importance of Good Attendance
Research shows that regular attendance plays an important role in supporting children’s learning, progress and achievement. As a school, we work alongside parents and carers to help every child attend as fully as possible and to identify and address any difficulties as early as we can. We encourage pupils to attend school every day unless there is a genuine reason for absence, and to arrive on time, ready to engage and make the most of each school day.
Here to Help
The school understands the important role it plays in supporting parents to promote good attendance. We are committed to working closely with families to address concerns and help reduce barriers that may affect attendance. We encourage parents to speak with their child’s class teacher or a Designated Safeguarding Lead at the earliest opportunity so that - together - we can provide support before any concerns grow.
Informing the School of Absence
If your child is too unwell to attend school, the absence must be reported via telephone or email into the school office by 9.15 am on the first day of absence and daily thereafter. If your child fails to register or is absent and we have not received notification by 9.15 am, a call will be made to parents/carers. In the case of long term or frequent absence due to medical conditions, verification from a GP or other relevant body may be requested.
Planned Absence During Term Time
We urge parents and carers to arrange routine medical and dental appointments out of school hours. Should this not be possible, the school office must be notified in advance.
Holidays and weekends away should be arranged to coincide with our published holiday dates. Term dates are available from Surrey County Council two years in advance and can also be found on our website: Parents - Term Dates.
If there are exceptional circumstances for your child to be absent from school, permission must be sought in writing, from the headteacher in advance. Any permission granted is at the discretion of the headteacher.
Circumstances that are not considered to be exceptional, and therefore will not be authorised, include: holidays or long weekends during term time; time off to visit relatives or family friends; time off to celebrate birthdays or for shopping trips.
Monitoring Attendance
- Parents and carers can view the attendance data for their child on the Arbor app.
- Parents and carers will receive an attendance update at each parent consultation meeting (autumn and spring terms) as well as in their child's end of year report (summer term).
- Our admin team monitor daily attendance and will call parents and carers to ascertain the reason for absence.
- Senior Leaders regularly monitor attendance to spot patterns and trends in order to prevent pupils falling into the 'persistent absence' category.
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The school meets termly with our Attendance Advice & Intervention Officer (AAIO) to monitor school attendance and punctuality, to discuss individual pupils and plan support. Where families have difficulties that affect their child’s attendance, the AAIO can provide helpful advice. Our AAIO is Kelly Jackson, Surrey County Council.
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Should the school be concerned about attendance, parents and carers will be notified in writing.
Persistent & Severe Absence
The DfE defines persistent absence as when a pupil misses 10% or more of their possible school sessions over the school year, for any reason (including authorised and unauthorised absences). This can build up quickly through odd days off, late starts or frequent appointments.
We closely monitor persistent absence because research shows it can have a significant impact on a child’s learning, progress and wellbeing. Working alongside families to understand their challenges allows us to put support in place early. Please reach out to your child's class teacher or Designated Safeguarding Lead if you are experiencing difficulty getting your child to attend school.
Severe Absence is when a pupil misses 50% or more of their school sessions.
Attendance Documents
Legal Duty
Parents and Carers have a legal responsibility to ensure that their child attends school regularly. Where attendance becomes a concern, including persistent or prolonged unauthorised absence, the school may involve the Attendance Advice & Intervention Officer. In some cases, this may lead to the issue of a Penalty Notice or further legal action.
Fixed Penalty Notices
If Parents take their child/ren out of school without authority for 5 or more days (which do not have to be consecutive), then the following will apply:
1. If you have not incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children in a rolling 3 year period since 19 August 2024, then the penalty notice will be charged at the rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80.00 if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
2. If you have incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children since 19 August 2024, the rolling 3 year period will be activated from the date of the first penalty notice and the second penalty notice will be charged at the flat rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. There will be no reduction for payment within 21 days. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
3. If you have incurred 2 penalty notices relating to this child/children in the rolling 3 year period since the first penalty notice was issued, then you will NOT receive a third penalty notice – Surrey County Council will have no option but to consider a prosecution, per parent/carer per child, in the Magistrates Court under s 444 Education Act 1996.
Surrey County Council is not responsible for authorising pupil absence and therefore cannot withdraw any Penalty Notice requests without the written permission of the Headteacher.