Promoting Good Attendance

Heswall Primary School has a legal and moral duty to promote regular attendance for our children.

 

Children who have good attendance at school, flourish; socially, emotionally and academically.  This also means that more than 7 days off in each school year will cause us concern.

 

 We understand that children get ill and we hope that we can support you with this.  Please let us know if a child will be absent before school starts so that we know where the child is when we are taking the register and therefore removing a possible safeguarding concern.  We may also contact parents if we have not been informed.

 90-95% needs improving.  

 Below 90% is a concern.  We will contact you about your child's attendance if it is below 90% and request a school based meeting to look at how we can support your child's attendance at school.

 Below 85% is a significant concern.  We will arrange a school based meeting to create an action plan with you to improve your child's attendance.  Your child's attendance will be monitored daily by our administration team.

 

 We understand that children get ill and hope that we can support you with this.  Please let us know if a child will be absent before school starts so that we know where the children are when we are taking the register and therefore removing a possible safeguarding concern.  Although we will usually authorise explained absences for illness, we may request supporting medical evidence when the attendance becomes a concern.  Evidence could include appointment cards, backs of prescriptions etc.

 

Heswall Primary School seek advice from Wirral Local Authority’s designated Locality Attendance Officer (LAO) both in respect of the management of whole school attendance matters, and of individual children whose attendance gives cause concern.

 

The school can only authorise absences for:

  • Medical appointments (proof of appointments may be requested)
  • Explained illnesses 
  • Appropriate Religious Festivals
  • Authorised educational activity off site (taster day at a secondary school, music exams etc).
  • Absence due to exceptional circumstances ( e.g. compassionate leave etc).

 

The school cannot authorise leave for requested holidays.  This is regardless of the cost of holidays, bookings by other family members (grandparents etc) or extended family celebrations (family wedding etc).  Proof of the wedding may be required although it is still unlikely that a whole holiday would be authorised.  Please do not book holidays during term time.

 

 Unauthorised absences may result in fixed penalty notice fines being applied or further legal action being undertaken by the Educational Social Welfare Officers from Wirral Council.  Current fines, that are not paid to the school are £60 per child, per adult.  For example, a family with three children could receive a fine of 3 x £60 for each adult, in this case - £360!  Of-course, we don't want this to happen to you so please avoid booking holidays in term time.

 

Punctuality is also equally as important.  This is monitored daily by the administration staff and can also result in fines if efforts to improve punctuality are not made.

 

If you have any worries or concerns about your child that you think maybe impacting on their attendance, please let the school know straight away.  Call us on 0151 342 7491.