Attendance

Regular school attendance has always been important and if children are to receive full advantage of school education it is important they attend regularly.

The Department for Education publish strict guidelines for schools in accordance with the law regarding attendance. Registers, alongside absence notes from parents, are checked regularly by the L.E.A.'s Educational Welfare Officer and attendance is also recorded on a child's annual report.

There are two types of absence:-

Authorised - a child has a legitimate reason for being away from school and the school has been informed of the reason as soon as possible.

Unauthorised - where a child is recorded absent without authority.

Without authority is where the absence, according to my guidelines, is not legitimate, e.g. no reason for absence, shopping, some holiday time, looking after other brothers or sisters, birthdays, etc.

Absence for 'family holiday' will not be authorised for the first two weeks of each term or if a child's attendance rate falls below 90% or during national SATS week. Absence for 'family holiday' during term time must be notified to the school for consideration of 'authorisation'.

School Attendance Regulations are available in school.

Please note that informing the school does not automatically authorise the absence, only the Headteacher can do this.

If your child is, or has to be, away from school for any reason it is important you send a note to their class teacher to explain their reason for absence.

For your child's safety if they have to leave school for an appointment, then they must be collected from the School Office at the Main Entrance.

Truancy Watch Scheme If you are taking your son/daughter out of school (hospital /dental appointment, educational reason etc) during school hours notify school of the date and reason for absence beforehand. You will be issued with an “Authorised Absence Pass” should you be 'challenged' by the truancy team out and about in Sheffield.