It is obviously very important that children attend school regularly. We look forward to working in partnership with you to support your children’s learning and their individual needs to help them achieve their potential.

We are required to keep and monitor records of attendance, absence and lateness and the details are submitted to the Local Authority (LA).

General Absence

When children are away from school please inform  us before 9.00am on each day of absence. Wherever possible, medical appointments should be made outside of the school day

Why is regular school attendance so important for my child?

Regular attendance at school means that your child can make the most of their education, improving their chances in adult life. School can also help your child’s social skills such as making and developing friendships. A regular and punctual attendance pattern will help your child when they enter the world of work. The link between attendance and attainment in school is clear. The more a pupil is in the school the more they increase their opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Does your child have high attendance levels?  Attendance also includes late arrivals or early departures.  These all have a significant effect on your child's learning.  

Term Time Holidays

In particular, we need to stress how important it is that you don’t take holidays in term time as it disrupts your child’s learning.

From the 1st September 2013 changes were made to the law which relates to parents/carers taking their children on holiday during term time. The change in legislation indicates that Head Teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless they consider there to be exceptional circumstances. The amendment in the law removed all references to family holidays.

The Trust will not grant parents/carers time off to take their children on holiday.

If you consider there are exceptional circumstances to support taking your child out of school a written request should be completed and handed in at the school office. This must be supported by documentary evidence for our Attendance Officer to consider.

Absences during SAT’s and examination periods will not be authorised and all unauthorised absences will be reported to the Attendance and Welfare Officer.

If the school are concerned about your child’s attendance rate you will be notified and the appropriate actions taken to improve this. Ultimately the school reserves the right to contact Lincolnshire County Council who hold the powers to issues penalty notices (fines) and/or prosecute parents for failing to ensure their child’s regular attendance at school.

The Requests for Leave must be completed and returned to the school office prior to the period of absence; please give the school as much notice as possible of your request.   Any exceptional circumstances must be clearly set out in the written request to the Head Teacher who will consider each case upon its merits.

If you then choose to take your child out of school during term time and it is not deemed to be exceptional circumstances and/or has not been approved by the School, then this will be coded as an unauthorised absence and a Fixed Penalty Notice may be issued for the period of absence. 

Factors which may be taken into account when deciding on a FPN include:

• the duration of the unauthorised absence

• the previous attendance rate of the child/ren involved

• whether the child has had any previous unauthorised absence 

ALL fines are retained by the Local Authority and the school does not receive any of this. We will continue to work with families to support as much as we can with attendance.

Should you wish to discuss this matter further, please contact the school office.

Does your child have high attendance levels?  Attendance also includes late arrivals or early departures.  These all have a significant effect on your child's learning.