PRESENOLDEB - SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

All parents/carers have a legal responsibility to ensure their child regularly attends school. When a child attends school on a regular basis, they take an important step towards reaching their full potential, and are given the greatest opportunity to learn new things and develop their skills.

Children who miss school can frequently fall behind with their work and do less well in exams. The more time a child spends around other children, whether in the classroom or as part of a school team or club, the more chance they have of making friends and feeling included, boosting social skills, confidence and self-esteem.

What if my child is ill?

If your child is too ill to come into school, please phone the school on (01633) 277905 and let us know. If there is no answer, please leave a message on our answer-phone stating: your child’s name, class and the reason for their absence. If we have not heard from you,  you may receive a phone call to ask why your child is not in school.

What if my child has too many days off?

If we become concerned about your child’s attendance, we will write to inform you that we are monitoring your child’s attendance.  If there are further absences, we may request that you come into school to discuss periods of absence and look into the support you may need.

Newport Local Authority has an Education Welfare Service, who are responsible for investigating any long periods of absence, or regular periods of unauthorised absence.  Our Educational Welfare Officer regularly visits the school to check our registers and discuss any pupils with whom there are concerns about. Schools have a duty in law to refer any absence over 10 days or more to the Education Welfare Service

The law says that parents/carers whose children of compulsory school age are absent from school without good reason are committing an offence. The Local Authority can issue a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for unauthorised absence of your child from school. A fixed penalty notice can be given for a pupil who has 10 half day sessions unauthorised absence from school. This includes holiday absence and persistent lateness.

Can my child attend extra-curricular events during school time?

If your child has been invited to take part in other educational activities outside of school (eg. music exams, drama performances, sporting events) parents should inform the headteacher in writing, providing details of the event(s) along with proof  of the event from the activity provider. The headteacher will then make a decision on whether to authorise the absence or not, depending on the child’s previous record of attendance.

Our Attendance Data Officer monitors pupil attendance daily and will contact parents of children not in school without having received a message from home.