Attendance

Every child has a right to an education. We recognise that improving attendance to school is everyone’s business, we must therefore work together to ensure the very best attendance to school for every pupil. It is our aim to create calm, orderly, safe and supportive environments where all pupils want to be and are keen and ready to learn.

 Please see a copy of our Attendance Policy here.

Absence from school

There are some important changes to attendance that started in August 2024. It is important for you to know that the way penalty notices for absences from school are issued changed.

Whilst it is our aim to avoid this route at all costs, we would like you to be aware of the rules:

THE EDUCATION (PENALTY NOTICES) (ENGLAND) (AMENDMENT)
REGULATIONS 2024 No. 210.

New legislation comes into force on 19.08.24 regarding the criteria and the issue of penalty notices to address school attendance to commence in September 2024.

The following changes have been made:

• the number of unauthorised absences to 10 unauthorised absences (5 days) in the most recent 10 school week period.
• the number of penalty notices that can be issued to a parent in respect of the same individual child to 2 within a 3-year period.
• It increases the amount of the penalty notice from £120 to £160 (if paid within 28 days) and £60 to £80 (if paid within 21 days) for the first penalty notice issued to a parent in respect of the same individual child in a 3-year period.
• It sets the amount of any second penalty notice issued to the same parent in respect of the same individual child within 3 years of the date the first penalty notice was issued to £160 to be paid within 28 days. No discount is offered.
• Further absences will proceed for prosecution in the Magistrate Court for the same parent in respect of the same child within 3 years of the date of the first penalty was issued.

Further information can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance