Parent Information – Reporting your child’s absence
It is the parent/guardian/carers LEGAL responsibility to notify school of a pupil’s absence on the FIRST day of absence and every day thereafter.
ALL absences must be reported on 01332 557032 (Option 1) BEFORE 9am.
State the pupil’s name, year group, reason for absence and your relationship to the pupil.
If a parent fails to notify school or their child’s absence, the following process will be implemented immediately.
Day 1
- The School will send an Absence text requesting the reason for the pupil’s absence.
- Pastoral Support will follow up with a telephone call home for all unexplained absence.
Day 2
- The School will send an Absence text requesting the reason for the pupil’s absence.
- Pastoral Support will follow up with a telephone call home for all unexplained absence.
Day 3
- The school will send an Absence text requesting the reason for the pupil’s absence.
- Pastoral Support will follow up with a telephone call Home for all unexplained absence.
- The Education Welfare Officer will complete a home visit.
Day 5
- The school will send an Absence text requesting the reason for the pupil’s absence.
- Pastoral Support will follow up with a telephone call home for all unexplained absence.
- If school have not been notified of the pupil’s absence by Day 5 a Referral to Social Care and a Police safe and well check will be requested by the Education Welfare Officer.
Day 7
- The School will send an Absence text requesting the reason for the pupil’s absence.
- Pastoral Support will follow up with a telephone call home for all unexplained absence.
- The Education Welfare Officer will complete a home visit.
Day 10
- The School will send an Absence text requesting the reason for the pupil’s absence.
- Pastoral Support will follow up with a telephone call home for all unexplained absence.
- In accordance with the Department of Educations Regulation for Children Missing Education (CME – 2016) – School will begin the process of reporting the pupil missing.
Day 15
- Unauthorised absence will be reported to the Local Education Authority.
- School may at this point make a formal request for a Penalty Notice to be issued.
- If school have not been notified of the pupil’s absence by Day 10 a Referral to Social Care and a Police safe and well check will be requested by the Education Welfare Officer.
Parent Information – Attendance Expectations
We expect pupils to attend school and lessons on time and every day that the school is open.
Pupils are expected to achieve 100% attendance.
Pupil attendance will be monitored from the start of the academic year. If your child’s attendance falls below 97%, please see the attendance process below.
Stage 1
- If a pupil’s attendance falls below 97%, you will receive a telephone call from the year office Pastoral Team.
- The Parent/Guardian/Carer will receive a letter confirming school’s concerns with regards to attendance stating that improvement is required.
Stage 2
- If a Pupil’s attendance falls below 93%, you will receive a telephone call from the Head of Year.
- The Parent/Guardian/Carer will receive a letter from the Head of Year, confirming school’s concerns with regards to attendance stating that improvement is required.
Stage 3
- If a pupil’s attendance falls below 90%, you will receive a telephone call advising that the pupil’s persistent absence has been referred to the Education Welfare Officer.
- The Parent/Guardian/Carer will receive a letter confirming that a referral has been made to the Education Welfare Officer, from the Head of Year.
Stage 4
- Parent/Guardian/Carer will receive an invitation to an Absence review meeting from the Education Welfare Officer.
- During this meeting, a formal Fast Track Contract will be issued.
- For the duration of the contract – the expectation is to achieve 100% attendance. Medical evidence will be required for all sickness absence.
- Any unauthorised absence will result in failure of the Fast Track contract.
Stage 5
- Failure of the Fast Track Contract – you will receive a letter from the Education Welfare Officer, informing you that a request to process a Penalty Notice has been made.
Parent Information – Late Arrival to School and Lessons
We expect pupils to arrive in school on time and be present in Tutor time at 8.40am every day that school is open.
Late Arrival to School and/or Lessons
Pupils arriving late to school MUST sign in at the Main Reception, Elmwood on Duffield Road.
Pupils arriving late to school BEFORE the register has closed at 9.20am will be recorded as late (L code).
Pupils arriving late to school AFTER the register has closed at 9.20am (and the school is not satisfied with the reason given), will be recorded as unauthorised absence (U code).
Pupils who are late to school if they have been delayed by the school bus will not be marked late.
Pupils who are late due to medical appointments MUST provide a letter showing proof of their appointment.
ALL late arrivals to School and/or Lessons will be monitored.
Pupils who are persistently late to school will be investigated. Parents will be contacted for an explanation and will be advised that continued lateness after the register has closed may result in the issuing of a Penalty Notice.
10 occasions of unauthorised late arrival to school and/or lesson 1 without an acceptable reason School may proceed with requesting that a Penalty Notice is issued by the Local Education Authority, this may result in:
- A Penalty Notice payable up to £120 fine per parent
- Prosecution under s444 (I) Education Act 1996, where if convicted you may be fined up to £1000
- Prosecution under s444 (I)(a) Education Act 1996, where if convicted you may be fined up to £2500 and/or 12 weeks imprisonment
To download the information shown above, please see the documents listed below.
Parent Absence Reporting Process Academic Year 2023-24
