Attendance

Attendance and punctuality are a priority at St Leonard’s and it is our aim to keep absences to a minimum as there is a strong link between attendance and academic progress. We aim to promote a culture across the school which identifies the importance of regular and punctual attendance.

It is parents’ duty to ensure that their child attends school and arrives on time.

Absences

Parents are asked to ring school by 9.15 am on the first day of an unexpected absence to notify school of the reason for absence.

Written notification for absence is required if no telephone message has been received.
After three weeks, if a reason has not been provided, the absence will be marked as unauthorised.

All known absences should be notified in advance.

A record of absences is kept by the school. Parents will be notified of percentage attendance on the written reports issued mid year and at the end of the year. Stickers and/or certificates are awarded for 100% attendance.

Family holidays in term time

Parents are not entitled to leave of absence for their children for holidays in term time. There is a discretionary power for holiday leave to be authorised by the headteacher only where there are special or exceptional circumstances, which should be notified to the school and agreed prior to booking. Where parents/guardians wish to take children on a family holiday in term time, the relevant request form (available from the school or to download here) must be completed and sent to school for consideration beforehand. If there are no special circumstances, the absence cannot be authorised. If parents proceed to take their child on holiday in term time without the headteacher’s approval, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

In the case of extended leave (over 10 school days), the parent must make a case for the special circumstances necessitating taking the pupil away from school for more than 10 days. Where the school does not grant extended leave and the pupil nevertheless goes on holiday, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

Lateness

If a pupil arrives after the register has been called but before the register is closed, they will be marked as late.

If a pupil arrives in school after the register is closed without good reason it will be marked as an unauthorised absence.

All latecomers should enter school by the main entrance as all other doors are locked just after 9 am when all children are in school.

Latecomers should be brought in to school by their parent/carer who should sign the child in and give a reason for lateness.

When a pupil has been late without good reason on a number of occasions, the matter will be brought to the attention of the Headteacher by the office staff and parents will be contacted.

Visits out of school by pupils during the school day

Where pupils have to leave school during a school day, e.g. to visit the dentist, a note should be written or telephone message given by the parents/carers in advance so that the register can be marked accordingly.

Any pupils leaving school during the school day should be accompanied by their parent/carer, or other responsible adult notified to the school, and be signed out by them. Pupils returning to school during the school day should be signed in again.

If the appointment is at the beginning of the school day or the beginning of the afternoon and continues after the register is closed the pupil will be marked absent for that session.

WHERE POSSIBLE ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS SHOULD NOT BE MADE IN TERM TIME