Attendance

Registration is a legal requirement that has to be taken at the beginning of each morning and afternoon session; this enables us to monitor attendance, punctuality and truancy, target absence, publicize data within our school and give a clear and accurate picture to parents and guardians.

Good attendance is regarded as above the National expectation of 97% over a 12 month period, accounting normal illnesses that a child may experience during the school year. At the end of each school term, we will send out a registration certificate to keep parents aware of their child’s attendance at school. Our school attendance target is 97%.

We monitor attendance on a regularly basis with the help of our Education Welfare Officer (EWO), and aim to provide support to all parents to maintain good attendance throughout school.

A useful video about attendance can be found here.

Attendance Procedures

Attendance is measured over a rolling 12 month period

First Day of Absence: Parents should contact the school before 9am either by phone or Arbor App Message to inform them of their child’s absence. If the school have received no notification, school staff will make contact with home via phone or Arbor App Message. In cases where no communication has been established, school will collect required information by sending a letter home.

Parents can contact the school on 01226 286510, and either speak to our reception or leave a message on our absence line.

Is my child too ill for school – Government Guidance

Pupils whose attendance falls below the national average will be classed as being persistently absent from school. These pupils will be monitored closely through a programme of intervention to support parents to improve their child’s attendance at school

Below National Average <97%: A letter regarding their attendance will be sent home to parents to inform them of the schools concerns. These pupils will be monitored closely.

Poor Attendance <90%: Parents will receive a letter asking that they provide medical evidence – e.g. appointment card, medicine – to ensure any future absences due to illness are authorised. Parents will be invited to an attendance panel meeting with the Headteacher and Education Welfare Officer to discuss steps to help improve attendance and agree a programme of support; failure to attend this meeting will result in a referral to the EWO and home visits.

For some parents, 90% may seem like an acceptable level of attendance, but the reality is that 90% attendance means that your child will miss half a school day each week or 19 days of school during the school year – that’s nearly 4 school weeks.

Punctuality: After 3 late marks (half termly) a letter will be sent home making parents aware of this. If parents have received two late letters from school, and are persistently late, they will be invited to attend a meeting with the Education Welfare Officer and Headteacher to discuss punctuality and agree a programme of support.

The EWO works alongside schools to address pupil related issues that may be affecting their attendance at school providing support as necessary. The EWO and school staff monitor attendance on a fortnightly basis which identifies any child with attendance below 97%. Each child’s circumstance’s are considered and support given to improve attendance.

WGPS’s Attendance Policy can be found on the link: WGPS HCAT Attendance and Punctuality Policy 2023

Holidays in term time

Amendments have been made by the Secretary of State to the 2006 regulations in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013.

No holidays will be authorised during term time unless the reasons are considered ‘exceptional’. Family holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings or holidays due to work commitments will not be considered as ‘exceptional circumstances’, and therefore will not be authorised.

The amendments make clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The Education (Penalty Notices) (England) Regulations 2007

Amendments have been made to the 2007 Regulations in the Education (Penalty Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulation 2013.

The law says that parents do not have the right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time. If you take your child on holiday during term time without the schools permission it will be recorded as an unauthorized absence and may result in parents being issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice at a cost of £60 if paid within 21 days and payment after this time but within 28 days is £120. This brings attendance penalty notices into line with other types of penalty notices and allows local authorities to act faster on prosecutions.

Every holiday application will be individually considered. Thank you for your continued support.