Introduction

At Wells Primary School we firmly believe that all pupils benefit from outstanding school attendance.  To this end, we will do all we can to ensure that our pupils achieve maximum possible attendance and that any problems that prevent full attendance are identified and acted upon promptly.  In order for a pupil’s attendance record to be deemed very good, it must be 97% or above: 

100%	Outstanding Attendance
97%–99%	Exemplary / Very Good Attendance
95%-97%	Expected / Good Attendance
Below 94%	Attendance Requires Improvement

Aims and Objectives

Wells Primary School will maintain systems and practices that will: 

• Create an ethos in which excellent attendance is the norm.
• Maintain a safe, secure environment where pupils feel valued and welcome, thereby positively encouraging attendance. 
• Raise pupil awareness of the importance of punctuality and uninterrupted attendance, and encourage in pupils a sense of responsibility.
• Celebrate excellent school attendance.
• Support pupils and families who experience difficulties maintaining good school attendance. 

The School Day

The school day starts at 8.25am. Children may go into classes from 8.20am when the school gates open and registers will be taken promptly at 8.35am. Children will be marked as late if they miss the register taken in class. Registers will close at 8.40am from when children will be marked as absent.

Children who arrive late must go to the front entrance and sign in on the school inventory system.

The school day finishes at 3pm.

Expectations

We expect that all pupils will: 

• Attend school regularly. 
• Attend school punctually. 
• Attend school appropriately prepared for the day. 

We expect that all parents/carers who have day to day responsibility for the children and young people will: 

• Encourage regular school attendance and be aware of their legal responsibilities.
• Ensure that the child/children in their care arrive at school punctually, prepared for the school day.
• Contact the school before 9.30am on the morning of each day of the pupil’s absence by calling 0208708 0500, option 1 or email the school at admin.wells@redbridge.gov.uk  

Parents/carers are encouraged to contact the school promptly whenever any problem occurs that may keep the child away from school.

Any unexplained absence is treated as unauthorised absence.

School Personnel:

Attendance Officer: Mrs Poulson

Senior Leader Responsible for Attendance: Ms Franklin (HT)

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) : Mrs Keel (Deputy HT)

Education Welfare Officer (EWO) : Local Authority Designated Person                                  

Wells Primary School has a responsibility to ensure that all teachers:

• Complete registers accurately and punctually during every registration period.
• Follow up any unexplained absences upon the pupil’s return to school. 
• Inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) of concerns. 
• Are alert to early indicators that could culminate in non-attendance and report these concerns as soon as possible to the DSL.

Wells Primary School acts in accordance with the Education Act 1996 and works collaboratively with the local authority to support parents in ensuring that their children are regularly attending school.

Responding to Non-Attendance 

Pupil attendance is continually monitored by the attendance officer, head teacher and DSL. When a pupil does not attend school, the school will respond in accordance with their Attendance and Punctuality procedures, this may include: 

• First Day Absence calls, text messages or emails to all named contacts with parental responsibility.  
• In the event of no response being received for the absence the school will attempt to communicate with other named contacts.
• Written communication for unexplained absences.
• Implementation of a staged attendance intervention.
• Referral to the EWO
• Home visits.  

Continued concerns about a child’s attendance may result in a referral to the school’s Safeguarding Team, the Education Welfare Officer, the school nursing service, MASH Team (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) or the police for a welfare check.

Failure to comply with the expectations set by the school may result in a referral to the local authority requesting the issue of a Penalty Notice, an application for an Education Supervision Order or court prosecution. 

Punctuality

If a pupil arrives late for registration, they will receive a late mark on the register. Reasons for lateness may be investigated and responded to in line with the School’s Attendance and Punctuality procedures. 

Lateness after registration has closed is recorded as an unauthorised absence (U) and parents/carers will be notified of this absence.  Continued Lateness after the Close of Registration may result in a referral to the local authority requesting a penalty notice. 

Medical Appointments

Parents/carers are encouraged to arrange all non-urgent medical appointments outside of school hours but where this is not possible the school should be notified in advance by calling or emailing the office on 02087080500 / admin.wells@redbridge.gov.uk

Where it is not possible to arrange appointments outside of school hours, pupils are encouraged to attend school either side of their appointment where possible.

 
Religious Holidays

The school will authorise absence for major religious holidays.  It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to inform the school in advance of their intention to keep their child at home.  If parents/carers do not inform the school any days missed may be recorded as an unauthorised absence. Requests for extended absence for religious observances should be made in writing to the Headteacher by completing the form below and emailing it to admin.wells@redbridge.gov.uk 
 

Holidays

The school holiday dates are published a year in advance and it is essential that parents/carers take their family holidays during the school holidays.  It is the school's policy not to authorise absence during term time for holidays and any absence of this nature will be recorded as unauthorised. 

We recognise that there may be occasions where parents/carers feel that there are extenuating reasons for requesting leave during term time.  In such circumstances parents/carers should write to/email the Headteacher outlining the reason for the request and the dates the pupil will be absent from school (please complete the form below). The Headteacher will inform the parents/carers of their decision in writing.  

Requests for long periods of absence will not be authorised.  Prolonged unauthorised absences may put your child’s place at name of school at risk. 

If parents take their children on holiday during term time without authorisation from the school, a Penalty Notice will be issued in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1966 and the Education and Inspection Act 2006.  

A Penalty Notice is issued to each parent in respect of each child not attending school.  “Parents” includes partners who are not married to, but who live with, one of the parents who has main care responsibilities for the child. Other family members with parental responsibility including grandparents and siblings may also be liable for a penalty notice.

Penalty Notice

Reasons for Penalty Notices/Prosecution

Term Time Leave of Absence

A school can apply to their local authority for a penalty notice if there are 5 or more days of consecutive absence due to term time leave. 

Unauthorised Absence

A school may apply to their local authority for a penalty notice if there are 10 or more sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10-week period. 

Who is Liable for a Penalty Notice / Prosecution?

Penalty notices/prosecution are now issued/sought for each parent for each child (per parent, per child).  Parent refers to anyone with parental responsibility and may include carers, step parents, grandparents or any other adult with parental responsibility.

For Example:  If a family with three children take term time leave of absence, each parent would receive three penalty notices of £160 for each child.  This would amount to £960 if paid within 28 days, reduced to £480 if paid within 21 days.

 

First Offence

The first time a penalty notice is issued for term time leave of absence or unauthorised absences the amount has increased to:

£160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days of being issued, this amount is reduced to £80 if paid within the first 21 days of being issued

 

Second Offence

If a second penalty notice is issued for term time leave of absence or unauthorised absence within a three-year period, there will not be a discount for early payment.  

The penalty notice is payable at the full amount of £160 within 28 days of the date of being issued

 

Third Offence / Any Further Offenses Within a Three-Year Period

If there is a third instance of term time leave of absence or unauthorised absence, a penalty notice will not be issued.

       Any further cases will be referred directly to Magistrates’ Court for prosecution.  Magistrates can impose a fine of up to £2500 per parent, per child.

 

If a parent is found guilty of an offence, this is recorded as a criminal offence and will show on any DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks as “Failure to Safeguard a Child's Education”

 

Transition, In year Admissions and Cross Border Checks

All schools will have the ability to check for previous penalty notices/prosecutions issued within a three-year period in their own local authority or any other local authority that the family has lived in at year 6 to 7 and 11 to 12 transition or for in year admissions.

Data Sharing with The DfE and Local Authority

From September, it will be mandatory for all schools to share live data with both the Department for Education and their local authority.  Schools will also have termly targeted support meetings with their local authority, to discuss pupil attendance.  If schools have authorised leave in term time, local authorities may ask to see proof of exceptional circumstances and in some cases, direct schools to apply for penalty notices to be issued.