Attendance
Attendance
At Dene House Primary School, we are committed to providing an education that helps each child reach their full potential. Regular school attendance is essential for your child's academic success and overall wellbeing.
- Attending school regularly helps children feel more connected to their peers and teachers, creating a positive learning environment.
- Research shows that pupils with good attendance throughout primary and secondary school achieve better results in GCSEs and A levels.
- In 2019, 84% of pupils with 100% attendance achieved the expected standard at Key Stage 2, compared to only 40% of persistently absent pupils.
- Missing school can lead to gaps in learning that are difficult to catch up on. Consistent attendance establishes positive habits and routines.
We understand some pupils face challenges with attendance. Our staff is here to work with you to remove barriers and provide the right support. Together, we can ensure your child has the best opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO BE ABSENT:
It is usually safe for children to attend school with mild illnesses, like a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat. However, children should stay at home if they have a high temperature of 38C or above. The NHS has published guidance to help parents/ carers decide whether their child is well enough to attend school.
NHS Guidance - Should I Keep My Child Off School
If a pupil is to be absent for any reason, parents or carers are asked to contact the school by telephone before 9:30am providing a reason for the absence. If a pupil is absent from school and there is no contact from parents/carers then school will contact home to find out why the pupil not in school.
A text message will be sent to request a phone call to provide a reason for the absence. If school have still not been contacted by 10am, our attendance officer or head teacher will begin to investigate - this could involve phoning emergency contacts or conducting home welfare checks.
Appointments should be made outside of school time where possible. If this is not possible, your child should miss the minimum amount of school time necessary. If they are well enough to come back to school following the appointment they should do
WHAT HAPPENS IF NO REASON IS PROVIDED FOR ABSENCE?
If after school have sent a text message, and tried to phone the emergency contacts on file, and a reason for absence has not been given, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. Regular absence and unauthorised absences could result in more formal action.
If there are concerns about a child’s welfare, or a child has been absent for a period of time with no reason for absence provided, school will carry out a home visit and/ or contact children’s services and in some cases the police.
Where 5 days (10 sessions) or more unauthorised absences are recorded in any 10 school week period the school must consider whether a penalty notice may be appropriate and if so will refer the matter to the Local Authority.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE IN TERM TIME
Head teachers are expected to restrict leave of absence in term-time to the specific circumstances in regulation 11 of the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024. There is discretion to consider exceptional circumstances based on the individual facts, circumstances and background behind the request.
Permission must be requested in advance by a parent/ carer the pupil normally lives with completing the form. Leave of Absence forms can be requested at the school office
Where a leave of absence is granted, the head teacher will determine the number of days a pupil can be away from school in-line with government guidance.
A leave of absence is granted entirely at the head teacher’s discretion. If an application is not made for leave then the absence will be recorded as unauthorised, regardless of circumstances
The DfE have stated that generally they do not consider the need or desire for a holiday or other absence for leisure or recreation to be an exceptional circumstance.
NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR PENALTY NOTICES AND OTHER LEGAL INTERVENTION
To improve consistency of practice across the country there is a national framework for penalty notices.
At the point where there are 5 days (10 sessions) of unauthorised absence recorded in any 10 school-week period, schools must consider if:
further support is appropriate.
support is appropriate but is not being engaged with.
support is appropriate but is not improving attendance.
support is not needed, such as in cases of term-time leave of absence
HOW DOES SCHOOL MONITOR ATTENDANCE?
School monitors pupil attendance daily following the procedures outlined above. In addition to this, pupil attendance data is analysed on a fortnightly basis. Children whose attendance drops below 94% are tracked carefully to ensure attendance rates don’t continue to fall and to ensure there are no patterns to their absence.
For children whose attendance drops to 92% or below, school will flag up early concerns with parents/ carers via Class Dojo
If a child’s attendance drops to 90% or below, school will invite parents carers into school for a meeting to discuss concerns and see what support – if any – is required.
This approach means poor patterns of attendance are addressed as soon as possible so that all parties can work together to resolve them before they become entrenched.
WHAT CAN I DO IF I AM STRUGGLING TO GET MY CHILD TO SCHOOL?
If you are having difficulties getting your child into school, the best thing to do is to speak to us as soons as possible. Contact school by email or telephone and we will arrange a meeting to discuss the barriers and create an offer of support. We are here to help.