Attendance & Punctuality
16 Feb 2024
At Downsell Primary School, we believe that regular and punctual attendance are key elements in promoting children’s learning and attainment.
Our school is committed to the following principles, which underpins our policy:
- To encourage all pupils to attend school and achieve their maximum potential.
- To promote good attendance throughout the school, aiming for at least 96% for the academic year
- To monitor attendance and use attendance data to work towards agreed targets.
- To work in partnership with parents and carers in promoting excellent attendance and punctuality, as well as the LA and other agencies where necessary.
We have a school target of 96% for all pupils, this is the MINIMUM attendance figure that we, as a school, are expected to achieve by the Government.
Parent / Carers
Parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their children have an education.
Section 444 (1) of the Education Act 1996 states "if a child of compulsory school age who is a registered pupil at a school fails to attend regularly at the school, his/her parent is guilty of an offence."
For more information of the Government’s guidance please go to the following page: https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence
Important updates in effect from September 2024
The Department for Education (DfE) updated their Working together to improve school attendance, which came into effect from August 2024, ready for the start of the new academic year.
A summary of the changes are as follows:
1. A fine must be considered if a child has missed 10 sessions (1 session is equal to 1 registration mark – half day). A fine can also be considered for a combination of ‘U’ codes (punctuality) and absence.
2. The costs for fines will go up from £60 to £80 if paid within 21 days and from £120 to £160 if paid in 28 days.
3. Only two fines can be issued to the same parent for the same child within a three-year rolling period. Any second notice will automatically be charged at £160. This will be applied even when children move schools in or out of the local authority.
4. New “notices to improve” will also be the “final opportunity for a parent to engage in support and improve attendance before a penalty notice is issued”.
Please take a moment to read through the following school documents, which include further information on the updated guidance:
We also have a child friendly version of our policy that has been shared with all pupils:
If you would like a hard copy of these documents, please speak to the school office.
Parents / carers can keep up to date with their child's attendance via Weduc, this will show daily updated attendance information for your child. As part of our attendance procedures in school, we also adopt the use of the traffic light system to provide parents / carers with an easy to understand overview of their child’s attendance.
Our traffic light system for attendance:
| |
Percentage |
Comment |
| Green |
96 – 100% |
Your child’s attendance meets our school expectation. You have supported your child with achieving the best possible outcomes in life.
If your child has achieved 100% - well done! |
| Amber |
94 – 95.9% |
Stage 1:
Your child’s attendance is a cause of concern. We know that this may be due to illness or other authorised absences but we hope that by bringing this to your attention now, will help you and your child. |
| 91 – 93.9% |
Stage 2:
Your child’s attendance is a cause for concern.
At this stage, we will need to arrange a formal meeting to support you and your child with improving this. |
| Red |
90% and below |
Your child’s attendance is far from our expectations and they are now on the persistent absentees list. We will need to meet formally and draw up an action plan together. Unless rapid improvement is made you will be flagged up to our EWO and your case may be referred on further, which can also lead to possible fines. |
Working with outside agencies
Downsell works with the Education Welfare Officer (EWO) to support the improvement of attendance for all pupils and particular groups of children causing a concern.
The EWO’s role involves the following:
- Monitoring of children causing concern
- Meetings
- Home visits
- Legal enforcement i.e. fines and court action
Punctuality/lateness
The school gates are open from 8:40am until 8:50am. Children can enter their classrooms from 8.45am.
As part of our safeguarding measures, we close the internal doors and classroom doors at 8.50am. Children will need to go through to the office from this point to be registered.
Pupils who are consistently late, are disrupting not only their own education but also that of other children in their class.
Where persistent lateness gives cause for concern, further action may be taken, you may be contacted by our education welfare office and invited in for a meeting.
Did you know?
5 minutes late every day = 3 days of learning lost each academic year
10 minutes late every day = 6.5 days of learning lost each academic year
15 minutes late every day = 10 days of learning lost each academic year
20 minutes late every day = 13 days of learning lost each academic year
30 minutes late every day = 30 days of learning lost each academic year
Every minute counts!