Important attendance information for 2021/2022
This academic year there will be a focus on the attendance of pupils in school which will also be closely monitored by the Attendance Team at Durham County Council on a half termly basis. It is the law that your child attends school regularly and on time. You will be breaking the law if you do not do this and there is no good reasons for your child missing school. Below is essential information for parents.
- Attending school is very important. Your child must attend school every day. Children who are regularly absent from school miss out on opportunities which can affect them in the long term. If you have any concerns about your child’s attendance contact school, so we can work together to improve the situation.
- Lateness – Your child should be at school no later than 8.55am. They will receive a late mark if they arrive after this time. The register closes at 9.30am, if they arrive after this time they will receive an unauthorised absence mark for the mornings session unless there is an appropriate reason.
- If your child is absent from school, you must contact school to provide a reason for absence. If we have not heard anything by 10am you will be contacted to check the reason for absence. If we do not receive an absence reason this may result in your child’s absences being unauthorised.
- Medical Appointments if at all possible, should be made out of school time. If this is not possible, your child should miss the minimum amount of school time necessary. If your child is well enough to attend school following the appointment they should do so.
- If your child has regular absences during a given period of time, you may be asked to provide medical evidence, ie. appointment cards, or letters, medication details or other relevant information.
- An application form for holiday requests should be completed and returned to school before the holiday takes place. Please note holiday requests can only be authorised in exceptional circumstance. Unauthorised leave may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (fine).
- If your childs attendance falls to below 90% this is considered by Government to be persistent absence. Where attendance falls below 90% and there is unauthorised absences, this may result in enforcement action by the Local Authority.
- In relation to COVID, if a pupil has symptoms and needs a PCR test this will be given Code X (child should not attend school) this code can only be given for a maximum of 3 days whilst waiting for results. If your child is positive they will be give a Code I (Illness) until the isolation period is over. If your child is negative and they feel well they should return to school.
If you have any further questions or queries regarding attendance then please contact the school office.
