Attendance and Absence Reporting
It is very important that all our students benefit from 190 days of learning to ensure they make progress and achieve the results they should. It is also very important that your child is punctual and arrives at school on time. Time keeping is important and will be monitored by the Attendance Officer. When your child is late to school they will receive a lunchtime detention on the day.
Authorised and Unauthorised absence
Authorised Absence is an absence that has been agreed by the school in advance, or justified after, for a pupil of compulsory school age.
Unauthorised Absence is an absence for which the school has not been provided with a reason, or for which the reason provided is unsatisfactory.
Reasons an absence may be authorised:
The Department of Education has stated that the school may authorise an absence for one of the following reasons:
If a child has a medical appointment or legitimate meeting
Too unwell to come to school
Undertake a religious observance
Close family bereavement
What Parents can do to help children achieve high levels of attendance
The Department of Education have put together the short guide below to help parents understand how they can work with the school and local authority to support their children to attend school and get the right support.
Guide for parents and carers on school attendance
There are a number of things parents can do to help children achieve high levels of attendance:
Ensure your child goes to bed early and wakes up on time ready to learn
Encourage your child to pack everything the night before
Remind your child about the importance of attending school
Arrange appointments (medical, hospital, dentist, GP) out of school hours, when possible