School attendance
At St George’s, we believe that attending school regularly is vitally important to your child’s future. If your child is absent from school, they will be missing lessons and learning opportunities. National research has proven that children who miss school frequently will fall behind with their schoolwork, which has a negative impact on exam performance and can lead to poor social skills and friendship issues. Children who are persistently absent from school are also at increased risk of becoming involved with anti-social behaviour and crime.
We believe that every pupil should strive to achieve 100% attendance, and robust systems are in place to support families and children in achieving this goal. We promote a strong work ethic and prepare our pupils for life beyond school. We want to maximise the future chances for all children.
We do recognise that children can be unwell. If you are unsure if your child should be at school, please call us to discuss. Please note that children should stay off school until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days.
Mrs Sixsmith (Head Teacher), Mrs Jervis (Safeguarding and Pastoral Leader) work closely with others in the school team to monitor student attendance, support families and implement systems that challenge poor attendance.
From August 19th 2024 the Government have introduced a new ‘national framework for Penalty Notices’. (in Telford & Wrekin the changes apply from 1st September 2024).
There are significant changes that parents need to be aware of:
- If your child has 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10 school week rolling period, you may be issued with a Penalty Notice. These 10 sessions may include any unauthorised absence, including leave in term time and do not have to be consecutive.
- Penalty Notices are increasing to £160 from September 2024. This can be reduced to £80 but only for the first Penalty Notice issued, if paid within 21 days – this reduction does not apply to any subsequent Penalty Notice.
- Any 2nd Penalty Notice, to the same parent for the same child, issued within three years of the date of the first Penalty Notice will be charged at a flat rate of £160
- A third Penalty Notice will not be issued within a three year rolling period, to the same parent for the unauthorised absence of the same child, – alternative action or legal measures will be utilised for subsequent offences.
- In some circumstances a ‘Notice to Improve’ may be issued – However, a Notice to Improve will only be used in cases where support is appropriate. They will not be issued in cases of unauthorised leave in term time for holidays, where information for parents is included on schools website or a simple warning by the school that a Penalty Notice could be issued if unauthorised leave in term time is taken will suffice.
‘Parents should always apply to the Headteacher for any request for leave in term time by completing a request form available from school. (DfE guidance states schools should not authorise leave retrospectively so any leave in term time taken without a request being submitted will be unauthorised absence)’.
In developing and publishing the new national framework, the Government has renewed appeals to parents not to take their children out of school during term time. The Governors and Headteacher of this school support this and students will only be given permission to take leave in term time if there are exceptional circumstances. The DfE Guidance Working Together to Improve School Attendance (Feb 2024) states that: Generally, the DfE does not consider the need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance. (Paragraph 38.)
Each application for leave in term time will be considered and if it is agreed and authorised the Headteacher will determine the duration of any leave. However, if the application is not agreed and the absence occurs the dates will be unauthorised. Parents will be notified of any decision in writing. This notification may be hand delivered directly to the parent or posted to the parents’ home address.
As a school we are asked to inform you that in line with Telford and Wrekin Council Policy, if your child is absent for 10 school sessions within a 10 week rolling period and that absence is unauthorised, you may be subject to a Penalty Notice fine, criteria is as detailed above.
Useful information on attendance
Once your child is registered at a school, you are legally responsible for making sure they attend regularly.
Government guidelines for schools and nurseries about managing specific infectious diseases at GOV.UK, which say when children should be kept off school and when they shouldn’t.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
Non-attendance
If a school identifies a child as having low attendance, letters expressing their concern will be sent by the school and to ask parents to get in touch. The Local Authority may also be informed.
Within the letter, the school may request a meeting to advise parents of legal responsibilities. We then examine any issues that may be causing poor attendance and draw up an action plan to improve the situation if necessary.
If there is no improvement in the child’s attendance, legal proceedings may follow in line with our Attendance Policy.
