Safeguarding Children

Attendance Policy

1.1

Sustained attendance at school is imperative for successful achievement at school.

1.2

Earlsheaton Technology College will make every effort to encourage and support regular and sustained attendance at school by all its pupils.

1.3

The school will use the SIMS Attendance Module and SIMS Capita Lesson Monitor to record and analyse attendance.

1.4

It is the responsibility of Form Tutors to record attendance daily at the start of both morning and afternoon session using the SIMS Attendance software.

1.5

From October 2004 pupils’ attendance to all lessons will be monitored via electronic registration.

1.6

Earlsheaton Technology College will closely monitor pupil absence and inform parents of any concerns regarding the attendance of their child as soon as possible.

1.7

Earlsheaton Technology College will continue to develop strategies and liaison with other agencies to reduce non-attendance and encourage sustained and regular attendance.

1.8

Earlsheaton Technology College will make every effort to contact any parent whose child has not attended school without notification on the first morning of their absence.

1.9

Earlsheaton Technology College will set an annual target for attendance as well as specified Year Group targets after consultation with the ESW.

2.1

Earlsheaton Technology College will set an expectation of punctuality for all pupils.

2.2

All parents will be informed through the prospectus, newsletter, pupil planner, the leaflet Miss School Miss Out, school website and parents evenings of the requirement to contact school with 24 hours of any absence in order to authenticate that absence.

2.3

Parents will be informed of the main pathways of communication, which are by telephone, letter, planner, e mail or personal visit to the school office.

2.4

There are three clear steps that are taken in the event of a student being absent:

An attempt will be made to contact the parent on the day of absence by the Attendance Officer using the texting service or by landline.
If after five working days there has still been no contact then a letter requesting an explanation will be sent.
Finally if there still been no response a referral by the Year Team will be made to the Educational Social Worker.

2.5

All communications from parents regarding absence received will be entered directly into SIMS by the person taking that call.

2.6

The Form Tutor should bring persistent non-attendance to the attention of the relevant Head of Year. The Head of Year will take appropriate steps in close liaison with the ESW.

2.7

When a pupil returns from an absence which has not been authorised they should complete the return form and send it with the student to the Assistant Head of Year.

2.8

All registers will be kept for at least three years after their expiry.

2.9

Members of the Welfare Team will monitor and review attendance data on a regular basis.

3.1

Form Registers will be marked at the start of the morning session and at the start of the afternoon session. That is at 8.40 a.m. and 12.45 p.m.

3.2

If a pupil arrives after a.m. or p.m. registration periods then they should report to the office where the reason for the lateness will be recorded and a late slip issued. The late slip should be given to the teacher of their first lesson in order to verify that they have been registered officially.

3.3

The ‘Official Register’ will be printed at least every 4 weeks, and kept in the school office.

4.1

Any pupil removed from the school roll for any reason must be reported to the ESW using Form W3.

4.2

Only the school can authorise an absence and this authority is the responsibility of the Deputy Headteacher responsible for Pupil Welfare.

4.3

A display of the weekly form percentage attendance will be mounted in reception. This will be the responsibility of the Attendance Clerk.

4.4

Forms with the best weekly attendance will be displayed in the Foyer.

4.5

Individual certificates of 100% attendance, Punctuality and for Improved Attendance will be issued half-termly. This will be the responsibility of each Head of Year to issue.

5.1

Year Teams will liaise with ESW individually on a weekly basis.

5.2

Year Teams will have the opportunity to place pupils on a daily Attendance report, which will be signed at every lesson either on paper or electronically.

5.3

All subject teachers must keep a register for each lesson they teach using the electronic Lesson Monitor system.

5.4

Any absence from a lesson should be authorised by the teacher taking the lesson by the giving of a ‘Permission to be out of lessons badge'. Any pupil stopped on a corridor without a badge will be escorted back to their lesson.

6.0

Term Time Holidays

6.1

Parents do not have the right to remove their children from school during term time for the purpose of a holiday.

6.2

Parents who wish to take their children out of school for a term time holiday must write to the school seeking permission before making any travel arrangements.

6.3

Upon receipt of a letter requesting permission the school will invite the parent into school for an interview with Associate Headteacher.

6.4

A penalty notice will be issued by the school to any parent who takes their child out of school for the purpose of a term time holiday without first gaining written permission from the Associate Headteacher.

7.0

Persistent Absence

7.1

The school will keep a half termly record of those pupils deemed to be persistent absent pupils.

7.2

The school will supply PA data to the Local Authority on a half termly basis.

7.3

Year Teams will be given names of those students fulfilling the PA criteria on a half termly basis.

7.4

The parents of PA pupils will be notified in writing by the school.

7.5

Year Teams will form Improving Attendance groups that will meet on a regular basis to support improved attendance.

7.6

All PA students will be given an Attendance Action Plan that will be reviewed half termly.

8.0

Attendance Panel

8.1

Pupils whose attendance continues to cause concern will be required to attend with their parents the Kirklees Attendance Panel.

8.2

The Attendance Panel will consist of the Educational Social Worker. The ESW Team Manager and the Associate Headteacher.

8.3

The purpose of the Attendance Panel will be to decide on the most appropriate action to take in response to continued poor attendance at school.