School attendance continues to be a high priority for the school, and it is important that we make every day count for the children at St Luke’s both in terms of their academic progress and preparing them for full and rewarding lives.

With the introduction of a new National Framework for Penalty Notices this academic year we have reviewed our policies, procedures and website to make sure that all the relevant information is easily accessible to you. On this page you will find:

• Attendance Policy
• Leave of Absence Application Form
• Our aims regarding school attendance
• Information of attendance codes
• Help to understand the changes to fines for term time holiday
• Links to Essex County Council’s pages
• Links to the GOV.UK pages

The most significant change is to the Penalty Notice Fines issued for any holidays taken during term time. While parents will have different views on this topic there is a legal requirement for children to attend school on the 190 days that we are open to them which leaves 175 days for you to enjoy time together. We are required to report attendance to Essex County Council, and it is them who issue fines and collect penalty payments. We do not receive anything as part of this process other than the work to notify, process and evidence these absences to all parents concerned and the Council.

Introduction and Aims

We expect all children on roll to attend every day, when the school is in session, as long as they are fit and healthy enough to do so. We do all we can to encourage the children to attend, and to put in place appropriate procedures. We believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is development of positive attitudes towards school. To this end, we strive to make our school a happy and rewarding experience for all children. We will reward those children whose attendance is very good. We will also make the best provision we can for those children who, for whatever reason, are unable to come to school.

Under the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 1995, every child of compulsory school age is entitled to an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude, and any special educational need they may have. The governing body of St Luke’s are responsible for making sure the school keeps an attendance register that records which pupils are present at the start of both the morning and the afternoon sessions of the school day.

St. Luke’s C of E Primary School recognises that positive behaviour and good attendance are essential in order to raise standards of pupil attainment and to give every child/young person the best educational experience possible. This policy is written with the DfE guidance “Working together to improve school attendance” mind and underpins our school ethos to:

• promote children’s welfare and safeguarding
• ensure every pupil has access to the full-time education to which they are entitled
• ensure that pupils succeed whilst at school
• ensure that pupils have access to the widest possible range of opportunities at school, and when they leave school

It seeks to ensure that all parties involved in the practicalities of school attendance are aware and informed of attendance matters in school and to outline the school’s commitment to attendance matters. It details the responsibilities of individuals and groups involved and the procedures in place to promote and monitor pupil attendance.

Our policy aims to raise and maintain levels of attendance by:

• Promoting a positive and welcoming atmosphere in which pupils feel safe, secure and valued
• Raising awareness of the importance of good attendance and punctuality
• Ensuring that attendance is monitored effectively and reasons for absences are recorded promptly and consistently

For our children to gain the greatest benefit from their education it is vital that they attend regularly and be at school, on time, every day the school is open.

Any absence, for any length of time, does have an impact on the children’s learning as lessons are carefully sequenced and use learning from previous days, weeks, terms and years to build and develop new ideas. The greater the length of absence the more challenge the children will face when they return to school increasing anxiety and the likelihood of falling behind their peers.