Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children attend and stay at school.

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1 Attendance Policy Statement of Intent works closely together in partnership with parents and external agencies in order to achieve excellent levels of school attendance and punctuality for all students. We recognise the link between attendance and achievement and thus the educational damage poor attendance can have on a young person. The latest Government briefing states that of pupils who miss more than 50 per cent of school only three per cent manage to achieve five A* to Cs including English and maths. Of pupils who miss between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of school, only 35 per cent manage to achieve five A* to C GCSEs including English and maths 1. Responsibilities Parents and Carers Parents are responsible in law (Section 7 of the Education Act 1996) for ensuring that their children of compulsory school age receive an efficient education suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs that they may have. Parents will fulfil this responsibility when they register their child at our school. Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children attend and stay at school. Parents should: ensure that their children arrive at school on time, properly dressed and in a condition to learn; instil in their children an appreciation of the importance of attending school regularly; impress upon their children the need to observe the school s code of conduct; take an active interest in their children s school career, praising and encouraging good work and behaviour and attending parents evenings and other relevant meetings; work in partnership with the school to resolve issues which may lead to non-attendance; ensure that they are aware of the attendance policy for ; notify the school if the student is absent. This should be done as soon as possible preferably on the first day of absence. They should also provide an explanation for the absence. This explanation should be confirmed preferably in writing when the child returns to school; avoid arranging medical/dental appointments during school hours; avoid booking holidays during term time and seek guidance from the school if this is impossible (see below). Parental Responsibility and the Law There are two offences relating to parental responsibility for ensuring regular attendance at school or alternative provision: if a registered pupil is absent without authorisation from school or alternative provision then the parent is guilty of an offence under section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996; if the parent knows that his child is failing to attend regularly at the school and fails to cause him to do so, he is guilty of an offence under section 444 (1A) of the Education Act Parenting contracts were introduced by section 19 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act Parenting contracts can be used in case of irregular attendance at school or at alternative provision. Parenting contracts are useful tools in identifying and focusing the problems behind non-attendance. A parenting contract, in this case, is a formal written agreement between a parent and the governing body of the school and should contain: a statement by the parent that they agree to comply for a specified period with whatever requirements are specified in the contract; and 1 DfE Persistent Absence Briefing Note July 2012

2 a statement by the governing body agreeing to provide support to the parent for the purpose of complying with the contract. Entry into a parenting contract is voluntary. The parent cannot be compelled to enter into a parenting contract and there is no obligation on the governing body to offer one. The school will engage with pupils and parents at all levels in relation to attendance concerns (see Attendance Monitoring Procedure below). In very rare circumstances where attendance reaches exceptional low levels and other intervention strategies have failed, the school will provide case evidence to the Local Authority who will consider whether it is necessary to pursue legal proceedings. Responsibilities We will be responsible for supporting the attendance of students and for dealing with problems that may lead to non-attendance. We will be responsible to call attendance registers at the start of the morning session and once during the afternoon session and to record whether students are present, absent or on an approved educational activity. For students of compulsory school age we are required to differentiate in the school registers between absence that is authorised and absence that is unauthorised. will:- Consider the maximising of attendance rates, both in relation to individual students and for the student body as a whole, as one of their key tasks. Support parents in ensuring the regular and punctual attendance of students and promptly respond to any issue which may lead to non-attendance. Be sensitive to the needs of individual parents and this should be reflected in the way in which attendance issues are addressed. The School should recognise that some parents have difficulty understanding written communications. They should also recognise the reluctance of some parents to come to school. Produce school attendance policies which are consistently applied and clearly communicated to all parents. attendance policy will: ensure that legal requirements are met; give a high priority to attendance and punctuality; identify clear channels of communication with parents; ensure that up to-date attendance data is available; identify what is considered as authorised/unauthorised absence; make provision for first-day of absence contact; contain clear procedures to identify and follow up all absence; recognise the importance of early intervention; identify a range of strategies to deal with absenteeism; be alert to critical times (e.g. secondary transfer); be sensitive to individual students needs; consider setting targets for individual students, form groups etc.; establish systems for rewarding good/improved attendance;

3 establish procedures for re-integrating long term absentees; suggest differentiation and flexibility in the curriculum and in teaching styles; establish clear lines of communication with outside agencies; ensure that all staff adopt a consistent approach in dealing with absence and lateness; provide for effective primary secondary liaison; inform and involve governors; ensure that good practice is identified and disseminated; use our prospectus, parents evenings and other communications with parents as opportunities for setting out our policy and expectations with regard to attendance and punctuality; review our attendance policy at regular intervals; maintain registers in accordance with the principles and procedures outlined in this policy; make it clear to parents that it is the school, not the parent, which authorises an absence. Authorisation for absence should be granted or withheld according to the criteria outlined in this policy; record and monitor lateness in accordance with the principles and procedures outlined in this policy; grant leave of holidays during term time only in accordance with the principles and procedures outlined in this policy; consider attendance from a whole school perspective. The link between attendance and achievement should be actively explored; encourage all staff, including ancillary and administrative staff, to see attendance as part of their responsibility; actively address all issues such as bullying which may lead to non attendance; notify the Local Authority of any student of compulsory school age who fails to attend school regularly; if appropriate, address attendance issues as part of student s Pastoral Support Programme or Team Around the Family, if necessary; not exclude students because of non attendance; complete their DfE absence proformas and return these to the DfE as required; provide attendance data, for the school as a whole and for groups and individual students as required; include in each student s annual report to his/her parents information relating to their attendance; publish, in our brochures and in our governing body s annual report, information relating to level of absence, both authorised and unauthorised. The School Day Students are expected to be lined up outside their form rooms in plenty of time for registration. The school hours are as follows: Period Monday to Thursday Friday Form 0850 to to 0855 Period to to 0945 Period to to 1035 Break 1050 to to 1055 Period to to 1145 Period to to 1235 Lunch 1250 to to 1330 Form 1345 to to 1335 Period to to 1425

4 Period to to 1515 The school reception and switchboard open at 07:30 and close at 17:00. The Library is open from 08:00 and breakfast is available in the dining hall from 08:15. Students who arrive to school after the registration bell will be marked as late and the relevant sanctions will be applied. Attendance Registers Attendance registers are legal documents that may be required as evidence in court cases. Registers must be taken at the beginning of each morning and once during the afternoon session. If the register is called at the end of the afternoon session adequate arrangements will be in place to ensure that students do not leave school between registrations. We will endeavour to ensure that students can be accounted for in an emergency and that a student removed from the school at lunchtime will not go unnoticed. Registers must record whether each student is present, absent or engaged in an approved educational activity. In the case of a student of compulsory school age who is absent the register must also indicate whether the absence has been authorised by the school. Registers should open and close at regular set times. They should not be kept open for longer than 30 minutes. When calling the register the appropriate mark and/or symbol should be placed against each student s name. Gaps should not be left so that entries can be made later. In marking registers we will use the set of agreed computerised symbols. When the reason for a student s absence cannot be established at the beginning of a session, the absence should be recorded as unauthorised and any subsequent correction to the register made as soon as practicable after the reason for the absence has been established. In order to reduce the possibility of post registration truancy, secondary schools are encouraged to take class registers in each lesson and/or carry out regular spot checks. We are required to notify the Local Authority of any student of compulsory school age who fails to attend school regularly, or who has been absent for a continuous period of more than 10 school days, without a legitimate reason. A student s name may not be deleted from the attendance register unless it has also been deleted from the admissions register. A student of compulsory school age shall have his/her name deleted from the admissions register when:- the student is registered at the school in accordance with the requirements of a School Attendance Order and another school is substituted by the LEA for that named in the Order or the Order is revoked. the student has been registered at another school. (Schools can register Traveller children even if they are on the roll of another school). The school the child normally attends is the base school; other registration is temporary. the school has received written notification from the parent that the student is receiving education from another source other than at school and has had approval by the Local Education Authority. the student has ceased to attend the school and no longer lives within a reasonable distance from the school. in the case of a student granted leave of absence exceeding 10 days for the purpose of a holiday, the student has failed to attend the school within 10 school days immediately following the last day of absence which was granted and the school is not satisfied that the student is unable to attend the school by reason of sickness or any unavoidable cause.

5 the student is certified by the School Medical Officer as unlikely to be in a fit state of health to attend school before ceasing to be of compulsory school age. the student has been continuously absent from school for a period of not less than 4 weeks and both the school and the Local Authority have failed, after reasonable enquiry, to locate him/her. In such cases the school should ensure that form EWSN1 is sent to the Education Welfare Team in the local Quadrant Office in order that efforts can be made to trace the student. This may involve contacting other relevant agencies and Authorities that may be able to provide further information. the student will cease to be compulsory school age before the school next meets and intends to cease to attend. (All registered students are required to remain at school until the leaving date, last Friday in June. At School includes for these purposes approved educational activities undertaken off site, including work experience). the student has been permanently excluded and the exclusion has been upheld. the student is absent from school for over 4 weeks because of detention in secure accommodation following a final court order to order of recall. If the school is told that a student is leaving to attend another school, then the Head of School needs to establish the student s new address, the name and address of the new school and the date the student will start there. Confirmation should then be sought from the receiving school. When this information has been obtained, the school should complete form EWSN1 and return it to the local Education Welfare office. If there is concern about any aspect of a transfer or if a student has disappeared the matter should be drawn without delay to the attention of the Education Welfare Team Manager. When a student s name is removed from the admissions register the school will notify the Local Authority. When a student is jointly registered at an Education Support Centre and at a mainstream school the name of that student should not be removed from the register of either the school or the Centre without the consent of the Local Authority and the school s Headteacher. Registers should be kept in a secure place for a period of not less than 3 years. When computerised registration systems are used a print-out of the register should be made not less than once a month. A print-out of the register relating to a particular school year should be bound in a single volume and retained for a period of not less than 3 years. Punctuality will take steps to actively encourage excellent levels of punctuality. Lateness should be monitored and followed up. John Warner School policies and brochures should clearly state the time at which each school session begins and finishes, including the time at which registers open and close. When a student arrives late and the register is still open he/she should be marked as late but counted as present for that session. The student will have his/her Expectation Card signed by the member of staff on the school gate. When a student arrives after the register has closed and provides a satisfactory explanation and the school accepts the explanation, he/she should be marked as an authorised absence for that session. When a student arrives late having missed registration, his/her absence on site should be noted in a book in the school office for purposes of emergency evacuation, etc. Parents/Carers of students who are late will be contacted by the school office. Students who are late without offering a genuine reason will receive appropriate school sanctions. Authorising Absence and Approved Educational Activity Only can authorise an absence. The fact that a parent has provided a note or other explanation (telephone call or personal contact) in relation to a particular absence does not, of itself, oblige the

6 school to accept it. If, after further investigation doubt remains about the explanation offered, or when no explanation is forthcoming at all, the absence should be treated as unauthorised should communicate to parents their policies with regard to the notification and categorisation of absence. Some parents, such as those whose first language is not English or who are illiterate, may experience difficulty in providing notes. In such cases we will seek to make alternative arrangements. The Form Tutor will ensure that all absence notes are kept on students files. Absence should be authorised if: the student is absent with leave (defined as leave granted by any person authorised to do so by the governing body or proprietor of the school ); the student is ill or prevented from attending by any unavoidable cause; the absence occurs on a day exclusively set aside for religious observance by the religious body to which the student s parent belongs; the school at which the child is a registered student is not within walking distance of the child s home; and no suitable arrangements have been made by the Local Authority for any of the following: o the child s transport to and from school; o boarding accommodation for the child at or near the school; o enabling the child to become a registered student at a school nearer to his/her home. the school at which the child is a registered student is not within walking distance of the child s home; and no suitable arrangements have been made by the Local Authority for any of the following: o the student is the child of Traveller parents who temporarily leave the area giving reasonable indication of their intention to return. In such cases our SENCO will supervise; o the student is taking part in an approved public performance; o there is a family bereavement; o a Year 11 student is granted study leave; o the student is involved in an exceptional special occasion. In authorising such absences the individual circumstances of the particular case and the student s overall pattern of attendance should be considered; o in exceptional circumstances a child has to look after a sick parent or sibling. (Such leave should be granted sparingly); o leave of absence will not be granted by the school for a family holiday. If there are exceptional circumstances behind a request for leave of absence then these should be discussed with the Headteacher; o Absence should be unauthorised if no explanation is forthcoming from the parents or if the school is dissatisfied with the explanation. Unauthorised absences could lead to fines or legal action taken against the parent/carer. Students who are engaged in off-site educational activities should be recorded as approved educational activity. For statistical purposes such students may be counted as present even though they are physically absent. A student should be recorded as approved educational activity if he/she is on: o An approved work experience placement; o a field trip or educational visit; o an approved sporting activity; o a link course; o the student is attending an interview with a prospective employer; o or for a place at University, College, or a place at another school; o receiving special tuition at another school (or at an ESC). (Note: If a student is attending an ESC under dual registration procedures will confirm that he/she is actually attending the ESC before marking him/her as approved educational activity on educational activity. Also we will only mark the student as approved educational activity on those days when he/she is due to attend the ESC; on days when he/she is not due to attend the ESC he/she (unless attending ) should be marked as authorised absent ). The key features of approved educational activity are that they are:

7 educational and directly linked to the school s programme; approved by the school; supervised by the school or someone authorised by the school. We will ensure that in the event of a fire drill or other emergency evacuation that we are able to carry out an immediate headcount as to the number of students physically present on site. Dealing with Attendance Issues (Summary) Holidays Holidays are not authorised unless under exceptional circumstances. Illness If the school is informed that a student will be missing for a significant amount of time, measures should be put in place by the DHOS/HOS to ensure that work is collected for all subjects and posted home. If a student is unable to attend school for a genuine medical reason and for a prolonged amount of time, ESTMA intervention can be sought. HOS to contact Kate Wooten in the first instance: (kate.wootton@hertscc.gov.uk) then complete a SSR requesting ESTMA intervention. Medical evidence will be required to support the application. Lateness /Persistent lateness Lates are recorded by DHOS/HOS on a daily basis. Each school has established their own system of sanctions to deal with late students. Medical appointments Parents should be reminded that medical appointments should not be taken during the school day unless urgent. Persistent absence A child with an attendance record of under 96% is deemed by law to be persistently absent from school. Attendance is monitored by the Head of Year and Head of School on a weekly basis. Attendance clinics are run to offer support to absent parents. Where a student s attendance is unauthorised, the following procedure will be followed: Unauthorised sessions reach Action Taken 10 A1 warning letter sent home 15 A2 final warning letter sent home More than 15 or no improvement Penalty will be issued The school can issue up to two penalty notices per academic year. The Head of School and the Family Support Worker will continue to work with families where attendance is a concern. Truancy All forms of truancy should be dealt with by the HOS in line with the behaviour policy. Report cards should also be used to monitor attendance, along with random spot checks. Parentally condoned truancy Parentally condemned truancy Specific lesson truancy Parents know that their child is not in school and have not taken sufficient measures to get them in. Parents know that their child is not in school and have been unable to get them in. Students pick and choose which lessons they will attend.