Attendance - Information for Parents
Why Attendance Matters
Regular school attendance is essential for children to make the most of their education. By attending school daily, children can achieve their full potential, build strong relationships, and develop good habits for the future. Our school deems 97% as the benchmark for good attendance as it accepts that some level of absence due to illness may be unavoidable but is certainly not inevitable.
Our Attendance Champion is: Rebecca Brosnan
Contact details: rebecca.brosnan@sarumacademy.org
Our Attendance Officer is: Kim Baker
Contact details: kim.baker@sarumacademy.org
Reporting an Absence
If your child is going to be absent, please contact the school as soon as possible. The phone is staffed from 8.00am. You can reach our Attendance Office by:
Phone: 01722 323431
Email: enquiries@sarumacademy.org
Online Form: Microsoft Word Version, PDF Version
Please provide your child's name, class, reason for absence, and expected return date. You are expected to call in and report absence everyday your child is absent. We will be in contact if we have not heard from you.
Absence requests
There is no entitlement in law to time off in term time. Magna Learning Partnership Academies will not authorise leave of absence in term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Whilst there is not a definitive list of circumstances these are typically for the following reasons:
Unavoidable medical or dental appointments
Close immediate family bereavement
For religious observance
Gypsy Roma Traveller absence when the family is travelling for occupational purposes only
Matters relating to a child’s welfare
All holiday is unauthorised regardless of the reason. Individual cases will be addressed by the Academy Leader, there decision is final. Click here to download a request form.
Authorised vs. Unauthorised Absence
Understanding the difference between authorised and unauthorised absences is important for maintaining good attendance records.
Authorised Absences: These are absences that the school may approve. Examples include:
Illness: If your child is too sick to attend school.
Medical/Dental Appointments: If these cannot be scheduled outside school hours.
Family Emergencies: Such as a bereavement or other significant events.
Religious Observances: When observance falls on a school day.
To have an absence authorised, please provide details explaining the reason. For medical absences, a doctor’s note may be required for prolonged or frequent absences. Remember an absence may be authorised but it still counts against your child’s attendance record.
Unauthorised Absences: These are absences that the school will not approve. Examples include:
Unexplained Absences: Not providing a reason for the absence.
Holidays: Taking vacations during term time.
Shopping Trips: Going shopping during school hours.
Lack of uniform: Your child being absent as their uniform is in the wash
Transport difficulties: Your child being absent as they have missed the bus
Non-Urgent Appointments: Such as haircuts, beauty treatments, or driving lessons.
Family events: Day trips, weddings, or visiting relatives.
Unauthorised absences can impact a child’s learning and overall attendance record. If you are unsure whether an absence will be authorised, please contact the Attendance Office.
Importance of Punctuality
Being on time is equally important. Arriving late can disrupt the class and affect your child’s learning. If your child is late, please ensure they check in at the school office upon arrival.
What to do if your child is ill?
When assessing whether to send your child to school or not, consider whether an adult would take a day off from work in a similar situation. If they are too unwell to attend school, please do keep them at home, but if they feel able to attend we have a medical facility and a medical officer should symptoms get worse during the day.
For sickness or diarrhoea, the school’s policy is for a child to be off for 48 hours.
You do not need to keep your child home from school if they have:
Athlete’s foot, Cold Sores, Conjunctivitis, Glandular Fever, Head Lice, Tonsillitis, Cold or Cough, Headaches, Sore Throat.
The NHS gives the following advice on how long children should stay off school if they are unwell. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
Support for Attendance Issues
We understand that there can be challenges in maintaining regular attendance. Our school is committed to working with parents to address these issues. Here’s how we can help:
Regular Communication: We will keep you informed about your child's attendance record and address any concerns promptly.
Attendance Meetings: We can schedule meetings to discuss any issues affecting your child’s attendance and work together to find solutions.
Resources and Referrals: We can provide resources or refer you to external support services if needed.
Personalised Support Plans: For children with chronic attendance issues, we can develop a support plan tailored to their specific needs.
We have developed a five stage supportive attendance process to support our young people in improving their attendance.
Pre-Stage 1 your child’s tutor may contact you if they have any worries
Stage 1 is letting you know we have some concerns
Stage 2 will let you know if attendance is not improving and try and find out the reasons why
Stage 3 will be a supportive school attendance meeting with a plan set and agreed
Stage 4 will be a review of the plan
Stage 5 will be a referral to the Educational Welfare Service
If you are experiencing difficulties with ensuring your child’s regular attendance, please contact us. Our team is here to help and can provide support and resources to address any challenges.
For more information please contact us:
Attendance Officer: [Name]
Phone: [School Phone Number]
Email: [Attendance Office Email]
Let’s work together to ensure every child attends school regularly and on time, ready to learn and succeed!
For more information click here (link to MLP Supporting your child’s attendance information booklet)
Our Attendance Policy can be found here