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moss park junior school policy on attendance 1 introduction we expect all children on roll to attend every day when the school is in session as long as they are fit and healthy enough to do so we do all we can to encourage the children to attend and to put in place appropriate procedures we believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is development of positive attitudes towards school to this end we strive to make our school a happy and rewarding experience for all children we will reward those children whose attendance is very good we will also make the best provision we can for those children who for whatever reason are prevented from coming to school under the education pupil registration regulations 2006 the governing body are responsible for making sure the school keeps an attendance register that records which pupils are present at the start of both the morning and the afternoon sessions of the school day this register will also indicate whether an absence was authorised permission given by the head teacher or unauthorised permission not given 2 school aims support for pupils ­ to ensure a broad and balanced curriculum that provides children with the best possible learning opportunities and experiences ethos ­ to provide a welcoming safe and caring environment in which each pupil is valued and supported partnership ­ to build and maintain effective partnerships between the school and parents/carers external support agencies and the wider community the school expectations from pupils they will attend school regularly they will arrive on time appropriately dressed and prepared for the day from parents/carers they encourage their children to attend school they contact the office between 8.30 and 9.30 whenever their child is unable to attend they ensure their child is appropriately dressed taking account of school dress code they ensure their child arrives in school well prepared for the school day with homework completed on time absence policy mpjs june 2010

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pupils and parents can expect the following from the school regular efficient and accurate recording of attendance and time keeping first day absence contact from the school when a pupil fails to attend and we have not been informed of the reason why early contact with parents when a pupil fails to attend without good reason and there is a pattern of absences or an excessive number of absences or lateness immediate action on any problem notified to us in confidence if appropriate positive measures to encourage good attendance a high quality education 3 definitions authorised absence an absence is classified as authorised when a child has been away from school for a legitimate reason and the school has received notification from a parent or guardian for example if a child has been unwell the parent writes a note or telephones the school to explain the absence only the school can make an absence authorised parents do not have this authority consequently not all absences supported by parents will be classified as authorised for example if a parent takes a child out of school to go shopping during school hours this will not mean it is an authorised absence 4 positive measures to encourage good attendance registers will be completed accurately at the start of each day school begins at 8.50am and the register is taken by 9.00am children arriving after 9.00am are late and will receive a late mark daily monitoring by class teachers and school administration staff to raise concerns where appropriate regular monitoring by head teacher of attendance and punctuality regular monitoring by education welfare officer of attendance and punctuality certificates or rewards for good attendance and punctuality discussion with head teacher education welfare officer where attendance falls below 80 regular reviews and meetings with parents punctuality/lateness we place a great deal of importance on the need to be punctual and to arrive in school on time not only does this make for a good start to the day but it shows consideration for every one else in the class and avoids repetition of instructions and teaching all children who arrive in school after 9.00am are to be marked `late absence policy mpjs june 2010

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5 medical appointments where a child misses more than half the morning or afternoon because of a medical appointment this will be recorded as an authorised absence in the register responding to non-attendance and the procedure for lateness if no note or telephone call is received from parents the school will contact the parent by telephone in continued non-attendance or lateness the education welfare officer will be alerted by the head teacher and a letter will be sent or/and a home visit will be carried out by the ewo parental requests for holiday absence during term-time children are not entitled to 10 days off school for a holiday in term-time permission for family holidays in term time can only be granted in exceptional circumstances and for up to 10 days in an academic year permission must be requested from the head teacher serious measures are now in place for non-school attendance and penalty notices have been introduced as a measure to support school attendance in trafford these can be issued by the education welfare team where a family deliberately takes a holiday in term time without permission from the school and it can be demonstrated that the parent/carer understood that permission had not been granted and where this has created a period of unauthorised absence in the term of 10 or more sessions 10 sessions are 5 school days parents and carers are requested not to book holidays in term-time the head teacher s refusal to authorise a holiday absence which then goes ahead will be treated under the truancy regulations and may result in the education welfare team issuing a penalty notice should the absence extend beyond 4 weeks the child s name may be taken off the school s roll and parents will have to go through trafford admissions if they want a place for their child in our school parents should be aware that a place may not be available 6 attendance targets the school sets attendance targets each year these are agreed by the governors at the annual target-setting meeting the attendance targets are then agreed with the la link advisor also the targets are challenging yet realistic and based on attendance figures achieved in previous years the school considers carefully the attendance figures for other similar schools when setting its own targets absence policy mpjs june 2010

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7 responsibility in order for this policy to be successful every member of the school community must make attendance a high priority we must share our enthusiasm for education and communicate its importance to pupils and all members of the school community 8 monitoring and review it is the responsibility of the governing body to monitor overall attendance and they will request an annual report from the head teacher the governing body also has the responsibility for this policy and for seeing that it is carried out governors will therefore examine closely the information provided to them and seek to ensure that our attendance figures are as high as they possibly can be the school will keep accurate attendance records on file for a minimum period of three years the rate of attendance will be reported in the school prospectus the school s profile and school evaluation form policy review summer 2014 absence policy mpjs june 2010

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