Attendance
Like all schools in Cambridgeshire, we expect attendance at school to be 100%, unless there are exceptional or unavoidable reasons for a child's absence, which would then be authorised. Any parent who takes a child out of school for term time leave for 6 consecutive sessions (3 days) or more over a 4 week period, not authorised by the school may receive a Penalty Notice. Parents are asked to carefully consider the need for their child's absence and complete a leave of absence form for their child(/ren) if it is necessary for them to be absent at any time, clearly indicating the need for this.
Attendance figures are monitored- when an individual child's attendance falls below 90% and the majority of absences are unauthorised,the school will wish to meet and work with parents to establish a more regular pattern of attendance and help return the child concerned to regular school attendance. Such strategies might include:
a) writing to the child’s parents to remind them of their legal responsibilities;
b) meeting with the child’s parents;
c) ensuring a first-day response to any absence;
d) setting targets for improvement;
e) referral to the Education Welfare Officer;
f) involvement of other services/agencies;
g) the issuing of a Penalty Notice.