SpringwellAttendance
At Springwell, we strive for outstanding attendance and had set the school target at 96% for 2020/21.
Pupils' attendance has been impacted on by Covid-19 and lockdowns; there is no statutory duty to report attendance this academic year.
From September 2021, we will be working towards excellent attendance and resetting our school target.
We continue to work with parents and carers to support them with their child’s attendance.
It is important that parents ensure that their child is able to attend school by:
- Making medical appointments out of school time wherever possible.
- Avoiding booking any holidays during term time.
The school will:
- Work with parents and carers to support attendance
- Ensure parents /carers are aware of the school term dates and INSET days on our website.
- Notify parents of any immediate school closure e.g. due to bad weather.
We want pupils to:
- Attend school regularly.
- Arrive on time and ready to learn.
Attendance Documents
Springwell's process for supporting pupils to attend school.
| Actions | Outcomes |
|
Ongoing analysis of all pupil attendance and reporting to link Educational Welfare Officer (EWO). |
Identification of patterns and frequency. |
| If a pupil is absent: the same day, office staff will call parents to ask why the pupil is not in school. | Information finding. |
| If absences continue and/or fall below 90% | |
|
A senior leader will call parents to update on concerns, to offer support and identify what we can do to raise attendance.
If there is a health concern, our Welfare Officer may also call parents. |
Raised parental awareness of levels of absence, impact on education and possible involvement of outside agencies.
Health advice and support. |
| If absences continue and/or fall below 90% | |
| Springwell will request to do a home visit – this would be a senior leader, Welfare Officer and/or Family Link Officer - who work with parents to create action plan. | All parties working together to improve attendance. |
| If absences continue and/or fall below 90% | |
| Involvement of outside agencies and formal meeting in school and referral to EWO. |
Input from increased parties. Possible fixed penalty notice. |
Holidays in term time
The Department of Education has made amendments to the 2006 regulations regarding attendance and the authorising of school holidays in term time. These make it clear that Head Teachers may not grant leave of absence during term time unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’.
In the light of these changes it will no longer be possible to authorise leave of absence for holidays during term time unless the ‘exceptional circumstances’ have been explained. Please be aware that reasons such as "cheaper in term time" or "more convenient" are no longer acceptable.
For more information please see:
https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/overview
At Springwell, we believe for children to learn most effectively, it is essential that they attend on a regular basis, and the role of the school is to ensure that this occurs. The school recognises the pressures placed upon families which contain a child with disabilities and/or special educational need and the need for respite.
Families are requested to complete a ‘leave of absence request form’ and provide information as to why it is felt necessary for their child to be taken out of school during term time.
Parents are welcome to discuss any request for a holiday in term time with the head teacher. If however the Head teacher does not authorise the requested leave of absence and parents continue to remove their child on the requested dates, please be aware that the school is required to notify the Local Authority who can potentially impose a £60 penalty.
