WHOLE-SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY - Smithdon High School ...

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Smithdon High School is committed to providing a full and efficient education to all its students and embraces the concept of equal opportunities for all, taking into account the school’s Race Equality Policy. We will endeavour to provide an environment where all pupils feel valued and welcome. For a child to reach their full educational achievement a high level of school attendance is essential. We will consistently work towards a goal of 100% attendance for all children. Every opportunity will be used to convey to pupils and their parents or carers the importance of regular and punctual attendance. School attendance is subject to various education laws and this school attendance policy is written to reflect these laws and the guidance produced by the Department for Education and Skills. Each year the school will examine its attendance figures and set attendance targets. These will reflect both national and Norfolk attendance targets. The school will review its systems for improving attendance at regular intervals to ensure that it is achieving its set goals. This policy will contain within it the procedures that the school will use to meet its attendance targets. School Procedures Any student who is absent from school must have their absence recorded as being authorised or unauthorised. Only the headteacher or a member of staff acting on his behalf can authorise absence. Lateness Morning registration will take place at the start of school. Registration will be electronic, using Lesson Monitor. Students arriving after the start of the session will be registered as late. Registers will remain open until 9.00am. Any student arriving after this time will be marked as having an unauthorised absence unless an explanation given is accepted as grounds for authorising the late arrival. The afternoon registration will be taken electronically by the class teacher at the start of the afternoon session at 1.25 and will close at 1.55pm. Lesson Monitor All registration will be electronic. Student attendance at and punctuality to lessons will also be monitored through this system, with all staff using Lesson Monitor to register students in their classes. First Day Absence If a student is unable to be at school, parents are expected to telephone the school office to report the absence before 9.00am, using the school’s attendance line. Any absence should be followed up with a note to the student’s Form Tutor upon their return. Parents are asked to keep the school informed of any continuing absence. Absences advised by telephone are registered electronically by the Attendance Administrator. A note, advising the Form Tutor of the reason for the absence, is entered as a comment on Lesson Monitor. 2
Any absence which is unexplained will generate an automated telephone message and/or text message, via Truancy Call, to the parents of the student, informing them of the absence and asking them to contact school. This message will be repeated at intervals until a response is forthcoming. Second Day Absence A list of all students with unexplained absence for a second day is produced by the school office and circulated to the relevant Head of Year. A letter is generated, asking parents to contact school to explain the absence. This is copied to the Form Tutor. Fourth Day Absence If there has still been no contact from the parent/s a further letter will be sent. The Head of Year or school Attendance Administrator will endeavour to make contact with the parent by telephone. Ten Days’ Absence Any student who is absent without an explanation for 10 consecutive days will be referred to the Norfolk Pupil Attendance Service [This is a legal requirement]. The school will include details of action that they have taken. Frequent Absence It is the responsibility of the Form Tutor to be aware of any emerging attendance concerns and to bring them to the attention of the Head of Year. In cases where a student begins to develop a pattern of absences, the school will try to resolve the problem with the parent/s. If this is unsuccessful the school will refer to the School Health Adviser if the problem appears to be a medical one. In other cases the school will discuss the problem with the school’s Attendance Improvement Officer (AIO). Frequent Medical Absences The school will discuss with the School Health Adviser those students who frequently miss days for medical reasons. At the discretion of the Head of Year, future absences may be unauthorised unless medical evidence is produced. Students Causing Concern. In cases where attendance does not improve, despite contact with parents, the parents and child will be invited to an Attendance Panel, comprising the Attendance Improvement Officer and the Head of Year. At this meeting a clear plan for improvement will be discussed and agreed. Fast Track for Persistent Absentees In severe cases, where attendance falls to below 80% and no medical condition has been determined, then a Fast Track Attendance Panel meeting will be convened, comprising the AIO, the Head of Year and the Assistant Headteacher. The parents and child will be invited to this formal meeting where an action plan will be agreed in order to improve attendance. At this meeting it will be made clear that court proceedings will follow should attendance targets not be met within the review period. The procedure will be that set out by the Local Authority. 3
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WHOLE-SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY - Smithdon High School ...

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