Attendance
“Regular attendance and punctuality are key building blocks to maximising achievement and developing opportunities in adulthood” (DfE)
Good attendance is essential if pupils are to take full advantage of school and gain the appropriate skills which will equip them for life.
St Anthony’s School plays a key role in ensuring that all pupils attend. There is a strong link between the climate for learning within schools and rates of attendance and achievement. When the learning experience is engaging, enjoyable, appropriately challenging and supportive, when it takes place within a calm and safe environment, then pupils are more likely to achieve through higher levels of attendance. We believe that a school with a positive climate for learning will have a direct impact on the standards of attainment and achievement where behaviours are conducive to effective teaching and learning. Clearly then, the life chances of all pupils will be affected by their levels of attendance and by the behaviours that take place in the classroom.
Pupils should come to school every day.
- A pupil should only be absent if the reason is “unavoidable”. Every half-day absence from school has to be classified by the school (not by parents), as either authorised or unauthorised. (This is why information about the cause of each absence is always required)
Parents and Carers Responsibility
Under section 7 of the Education Act 1996 the parent/carer is responsible for making sure that their child of compulsory school age receives efficient fulltime education that is suitable for the child’s age, ability and aptitude and any special educational needs the child may have. This can be by regular attendance at school or by elective home education (the parent/carer can choose to educate their child at home).
Parents/carers can do a great deal to support the regular and punctual attendance of their children. To help their children parents/carers can:
- Take an active interest in their child’s school life and work.
- Ensure that their child only misses school for reasons which are unavoidable or justified, such as illness.
- Ensure that their child arrives at school on time each day
- Always notify the school if they are concerned that their child may be reluctant to go to school and refer to the Attendance Service or other appropriate agencies for additional support.
- Avoid booking family holidays during term-time
- Ensure that their child completes his/her homework and goes to bed at an appropriate time
- Attend where possible, parents’ evenings and other school events
- Be aware of letters from school that their child brings home.
Parents are required to secure education for their children either by regular attendance at school or otherwise and failure to do so could result in legal action being taken against them. Under the Education Law, carers have the same legal responsibilities as parents and are subject to the same processes. If a child is registered at school, parents have the primary responsibility for ensuring that children of school age receive suitable education.
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