Attendance

Aiming for 100% Attendance!

Attendance

Information to add to schools website & correspondence regarding leave in term time

From August 19^th 2024 the Government have introduced a new ‘national framework for Penalty Notices’. (in Telford & Wrekin the changes apply from 1^st September 2024).

There are significant changes that parents need to be aware of:

If your child has 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10 school week rolling period, you may be issued with a Penalty Notice. These 10 sessions may include any unauthorised absence, including leave in term time and do not have to be consecutive.
Penalty Notices are increasing to £160 from September 2024. This can be reduced to £80 but only for the first Penalty Notice issued, if paid within 21 days – this reduction does not apply to any subsequent Penalty Notice.
Any 2^nd Penalty Notice, to the same parent for the same child, issued within three years of the date of the first Penalty Notice will be charged at a flat rate of £160
A third Penalty Notice will not be issued within a three year rolling period, to the same parent for the unauthorised absence of the same child, - alternative action or legal measures will be utilised for subsequent offences.
In some circumstances a ‘Notice to Improve’ may be issued – However, a Notice to Improve will only be used in cases where support is appropriate. They will not be issued in cases of unauthorised leave in term time for holidays, where information for parents is included on schools website or a simple warning by the school that a Penalty Notice could be issued if unauthorised leave in term time is taken will suffice.

‘Parents should always apply to the Headteacher for any request for leave in term time by completing a request form available from school. (DfE guidance states schools should not authorise leave retrospectively so any leave in term time taken without a request being submitted will be unauthorised absence)’.

In developing and publishing the new national framework, the Government has renewed appeals to parents not to take their children out of school during term time. The Governors and Headteacher of this school support this and students will only be given permission to take leave in term time if there are exceptional circumstances. The DfE Guidance Working Together to Improve School Attendance (Feb 2024) states that: Generally, the DfE does not consider the need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance. (Paragraph 38.)

Each application for leave in term time will be considered and if it is agreed and authorised the Headteacher will determine the duration of any leave. However, if the application is not agreed and the absence occurs the dates will be unauthorised. Parents will be notified of any decision in writing. This notification may be hand delivered directly to the parent or posted to the parents’ home address.

As a school we are asked to inform you that in line with Telford and Wrekin Council Policy, if your child is absent for 10 school sessions within a 10 week rolling period and that absence is unauthorised, you may be subject to a Penalty Notice fine, criteria is as detailed above.

Please note, from 19th August 2024, there are changes to the government guidelines regarding leave in term time, see statement below:

Our Attendance Policy can be accessed here

Attendance statement from Telford and Wrekin - click here

As a St Chad's Academy within the Telford and Wrekin Authority, we follow the guidelines and rules as set out by the local Authority. With reference to leave within term time we advise that any leave should not be booked until the Principal has agreed to give their permission for the absence.

Please click here for access to Telford and Wrekin Attendance Support Page. This includes information on Telford and Wrekin Protocol and Procedures, which can all be accessed and downloaded. Please click here to read a letter for Telford and Wrekin Council Attendance Support Team regarding a Supreme Court decision.

As an Academy, we have a target of 96.1% attendance, however we strive to achieve as close 100% as we can.

How coming in late impacts on your child's education:

Minutes Late per Day	Equivalent of Missing
5 Minutes	3.4 School Days per year
10 Minutes	6.9 School Days per year
15 Minutes	10.3 School days per year
20 Minutes	13.8 School Days per year
30 Minutes	20.7 School Days per year

IS YOUR CHILD TOO ILL FOR SCHOOL?

It is usually appropriate for parents and carers to send their children to school with mild illnesses. This would include general cold symptoms: a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat. However, children should not be sent to school if they have a temperature of 38°C or above.

Please see advice from NHS in relation to whether your child is well enough to come to school or not.

(www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/)

Things the Academy does to promote attendance:

A range of incentives and activities the Academy engages in to focus on improving attendance includes (this is not an exhaustive list):

Well done letters
Ellen and Philip as rewards to the class with the highest attendance
100% Attendance prizes (termly and end of the academic year)
99%+ Attendance prizes (termly and end of the academic year)
98%+ Attendance prizes (termly and end of the academic year)
95%+ Attendance prizes (termly and end of the academic year)
Most improves attendance prize (end of the academic year)
House Points linked to attendance
Welfare checks to homes
Collection and drop-offs
Face to face support meetings
Education Welfare Officer involvement and support
Parent cooking sessions
Parent lunches for individual year groups
Mother’s Day Afternoon
Father’s Day Breakfast
Weekly email to class teachers
Attendance Display board
Attendance information on the Newsletter
Messages via ParentPay

Why not check out our 'Ellen and Philip' page for more information.