Head Teacher: February 2017 :Date of Review

Signed by Chair of Governors:

Approved by Governing Body on:

Attendance Policy 2017

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ATTENDANCE POLICY

1. PHILOSOPHY UNDERPINNING THIS POLICY

The Orchard School believes that there is a direct link between a child’s level of attendance at school and their progress. In developing this policy the school aims to ensure that all pupils have access to a full curriculum and, taking account of any medical needs, spend as much time as possible in school.

The government expects schools and local authorities to: • Promote good attendance and reduce absence, including persistent absence; • Ensure every pupil has access to full-time education to which they are entitled; and, • Act early to address patterns of absence. • Parents to perform their legal duty by ensuring their children of compulsory school age who are registered at school attend regularly. DFE guidance November 2016

In order to promote continuity of learning for all pupils the Orchard School takes seriously its responsibility of monitoring attendance and addressing any issues preventing regular attendance.

2. AIMS

This policy aims to raise and maintain levels of attendance by:

Providing a safe and secure environment for children so that they wish to be in school.

Raising awareness of the importance of good attendance and building the trust of parents so that school is seen as a safe place for their child

Ensuring that attendance is monitored effectively and reasons for absence are recorded promptly and consistently and followed up as necessary.

Ensuring that a flexible and informed approach supports maximum attendance for all children including those with significant medical needs.

Promoting and celebrating pupils’ successes and achievements. Challenging and reducing levels of absence, both authorised and

unauthorised.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS AND CARERS

Parents have the prime and legal responsibility for ensuring that their child attends school regularly. Parents may be prosecuted under the Education Act 1996 if their child does not attend school regularly and punctually.

Parents and carers are expected to:

Support their child and recognise their successes and achievements Work closely with the school, the community school nurse and the

attendance and prosecution service to address any problems that may impede a child’s regular attendance at school.

Ensure that their child arrives in school on time. Parents should provide a reason for lateness unless it is due to lateness of the transport.

To provide a reason for any period of absence, preferably before the start of the school day.

To take family holidays within school holiday periods. Any requests for absence outside of school holiday times, including religious observance, must be well in advance and in writing. Such requests will be considered by the headteacher and will only be agreed in very exceptional circumstances.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SCHOOLThe school will work with parents and other partners such as medical staff to:

Create an inclusive school atmosphere and provide a curriculum that engages pupils and meets their individual learning needs.

Encourage open and regular communication with parents. Consistently record attendance and punctuality ( see Appendix A) Monitor attendance and punctuality to celebrate achievements and

follow up patterns of absence Promote the regular attendance of all pupils including liaison with the

Local Authority Attendance and Prosecution Service where persistent absence occurs.

5. SCHOOL PROCEDURESThe class teacher is responsible for recording the presence and absence of pupils on the electronic register both in the morning and the afternoon. The morning register is closed at 9.15. am unless there are widespread problems with transport in which case the register may remain open. If a child arrives after the register has closed they will be recorded as late. In the afternoon the register is taken at 1.10. pm

(see Appendix A)

6. IF A CHILD IS ABSENT

6.1 Parents are requested to notify the school directly by phone of the specific reason for a child’s absence. It is not appropriate to pass on messages via the school transport staff as information may not be accurately relayed to the school. The school will decide at this point whether to record the absence as authorised or unauthorised. This decision will be made within DFE guidance set out under the 1996 Education Act.

Reasons for authorised absence include: The child is ill.

In the case of sickness and diarrhoea parents will be requested to keep their child at home for 48 hours after the last bout of sickness.If the child has been confirmed as having an infectious disease such as measles.

The child is eligible for transport assistance and suitable arrangements have not been made.

6.2 Where no reason has been provided for a child’s absence the school will contact the parents/carers by phone on the first day of absence. The school will also send out a letter reminding the parent/carer of their duty to phone the school when their child is absent. If no sufficient explanation is received regarding the child’s absence the register will be marked as unauthorised absence.

6.3 When parents/carers indicate that their child may be absent for a long period (e.g. all week) the school will contact the parents after a few

days to enquire about the child and whether they are likely to return to school earlier etc.

6.4 The school electronic register allows the close monitoring of patterns of attendance and the school shares attendance reports and data with the Attendance and Prosecution Service.

7. WHERE ATTENDANCE FALLS BELOW 90%The school will run a report at the beginning of each month to highlight those pupils whose attendance falls below 90%. The reasons for each child’s absence (with attendance below 90%) will be reviewed in consultation with the community school nurse. Where a child’s absences cannot be clearly explained and have been recorded as unauthorised then an individual plan of action will be agreed to improve attendance. The school will:

Write to parents/carers to highlight the concerns regarding the child’s absences.

Discuss the child with an officer from the Attendance and Prosecution Service and request a visit to the family as necessary.

Discuss attendance as a key part of the EHCP review In extreme cases set up an agreement through the Attendance

and Prosecution Service and with the parents/carers regarding expectations of the child’s attendance. This agreement will be signed by all parties. Where this agreement does not result in improved attendance the Local Authority through the Attendance and Prosecution Service may decide to prosecute parents for their child’s non-attendance.

( see Appendix B )

8. REQUESTS FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCEIf parents/carers wish to request a leave of absence from school during term time they should complete a leave of absence form available from the school office. This request must be made well in advance of the

proposed action. Leave of absence will only be agreed by the head teacher in exceptional circumstances.Taking holidays in term time will affect your child’s schooling as much as any other absence and we expect parents and families to support the school by not taking their child away in school time. If extended leave of absence is requested, the head teacher will arrange a meeting with parents/carers to fully discuss the reasons for the proposed absence.

Any period of leave taken without agreement of the school, or in excess of that agreed, will be classed as unauthorised and may attract sanctions such as a Penalty Notice.Penalty notices are issued by The Attendance and Prosecution Service following a request from the school . Please note : Penalty notices - a fine of up to £120 in respect of each child and each parent/carer and can be subject to further legal proceedings in the Magistrates Court

The Head teacher will inform parents/carers if the leave of absence is authorised or not authorised

Those People responsible for attendance matters in this school are:

Family Liaison worker – Louisa Stevens Diane Ellingham – Head teacherBarbara Ackerley - Deputy Head teacher

SUMMARY

The school has a legal duty to publish its absence figures to parents/carers and to promote attendance. Equally, parents/carers have a duty to make sure that their children attend.All school staff are committed to working with parents/carers and pupils as thebest way to ensure as high a level of attendance as possible.

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I have read and understand the terms and conditions of the Attendance Policy at The Orchard School.

Signed:

Child :

Date :

APPENDICES

A DFE ABSENCE CODES

B FLOW CHART OF SCHOOL PROCEDURES

Appendix A

DFE Absence Codes

Code School Meaning Statistical meaning

/ Present (am) Present

\ Present (pm) Present

B Educated offsite (not dual registration) Approved Educational

Activity

C Other authorised circumstances Authorised absence

D dual Registration Authorised absence

E Excluded Authorised absence

F Extended holiday (agreed) Authorised absence

G Family holiday (not agreed) Unauthorised absence

H Family Holiday (agreed) Authorised absence

I Illness Authorised absence

L Late before close of registration Present

M Medical appointments Authorised absence

N No reason provided for absence Unauthorised absence

O Unauthorised absence Unauthorised absence

P Approved sporting activity Present

R Religious observance Authorised absence

T Travellers absence Authorised absence

U Late after registers closed Unauthorised absence

V Educational visit or trip Approved Educational

Activity

X Part time children not required in school Attendance not required

Y Enforced closure Attendance not required

# School closed to staff and pupils Attendance not required

* Pupil not on roll Attendance not required

- All should attend/no mark recorded No mark

Appendix B

Family reports reason

Child Absent from School

No reason

No action Admin team to follow up with a phone call and log reason

Parent Liaison Manager monitors attendance on a weekly basis

For those children that fall below the 90% attendance mark

Reason - medical , illness – discuss with community school nurse

Persistent absence or other concerns - discussion with Head Teacher and letter may be sent to the family informing them of concerns re absence or a meeting called Unauthorised holiday - letter sent by Head

teacher informing the family that this will be unauthorised

If absence remains a concern, family liaison officer will inform attendance and prosecution service

Attendance and prosecution service informed

Penalty Notice issued