Registration Procedures

The school will ensure that an attendance register is taken at the start of the first session of the school day and once during the second session.

Morning Session: Registers close at 8.55 AM.

Afternoon Session: Registers are taken at 1:05 PM and 1.40PM for years 5 and 6.

Registers will be marked using Department for Education Attendance and Absence codes

Lateness

Children must attend on time to be given a present mark for the session. Children are expected to be in class by 8:55 AM. A child arriving after 8:55 AM will receive an L code (Late). The reason for this will be recorded, alongside the child’s name for monitoring purposes.

The register closes at 9:10 PM. Where a pupil arrives after the register closes this will be classed as an unauthorised absence (Code U as per DfE compulsory attendance codes).  The procedures for first day absence are then commenced by the Office Staff.

Where there is regular or a pattern of lateness, parents/carers will be invited into school to discuss the issue.

Managing Absence

First Day of Absence: Parents/carers must inform the school before 9:00 AM. If no contact is made, the school will call home to ensure the child is safe.

Parents/carers should contact school every day until the pupil returns to school or alternatively
indicate the length of the absence and the reasons why it is known the pupil will be unable to
attend e.g. recovering from an operation. In these circumstances a ‘check in’ date must be agreed
when the absence will be reviewed.

Failure to provide a reasonable explanation within 5 days of the start of the absence will result
in the absence being marked as unauthorised. In these circumstances legal interventions may be
considered.

It is the responsibility of the Headteacher, not the parent/carer, to decide whether the absence is authorised or unauthorised. Such decisions will be made in accordance with DfE regulations and
guidance.

Persistent Absence (Below 90%): Pupils will be monitored closely, and interventions will be offered. Parents will be contacted for a meeting if attendance does not improve.

Severe Absence (Below 50%): This will trigger immediate intervention, involving the local authority if necessary. A multi-agency approach will be used to support the family.

Promoting Good Attendance

Whilst good attendance is a legal requirement and expected, the school will encourage and support all children and parents through a variety of avenues.  These include, but are not limited to:

• Rewards: Regular attendance will be celebrated in assemblies and through rewards such as certificates, badges, or recognition in newsletters.
• Parental Engagement: The school will engage with parents through regular updates about the importance of attendance, providing tips and resources to help overcome barriers to attendance.
• Early Intervention: Attendance data will be analysed weekly, and early support will be provided to pupils at risk of poor attendance.
• Targeted Intervention: Re-engagement of persistent and severely absent pupils, in partnership with support services as required.

Legal Interventions

The school, in consultation with the local authority, will exercise its legal powers to address poor attendance in school. Details of the full range of legal interventions available to the school can be found in the DfE’s Working together to improve school attendance statutory guidance.  If attendance does not improve despite support:

• Parents may receive warning letters.
• A penalty notice may be issued if 10 sessions of unauthorised absence occur within a term.
• Prosecution may be pursued under the Education Act 1996 if attendance continues to be an issue.

The following tables indicate the number of missed days/weeks missed, depending on the pupil’s attendance percentage.

Attendance	Missed days
100%	0
98%	Less than 4 days / 8 sessions
97%	Less than 6 days / 12 sessions
95%	9½ days / 19 sessions
90%	19 days / 38 sessions
85%	28½ days / 57 sessions
80%	38 days / 76 sessions

Attendance over 5 years	Missed weeks over 5 years
85-90%	19 weeks / ½ school year
80%	38 weeks / 1 whole school year

Illness and Medical Evidence

Reporting Illness

Parents must inform the school by 9:00 AM if their child is unwell and unable to attend school. Parents should provide a reason for the absence and, where possible, an expected return date.

Medical Evidence

In some cases, the school may request medical evidence to support absences due to illness, particularly in the following circumstances:

• Attendance falls below 90% (Persistent Absence): Medical evidence may be required to authorise future absences.
• Frequent Absences: Where there are repeated absences for illness without any long-term diagnosis, the school may request a doctor’s note or prescription to confirm the reason.
• Prolonged Illness: If a child is absent for more than 5 consecutive days due to illness, parents may be asked to provide medical evidence.

Examples of acceptable medical evidence include:

• A doctor's note or letter.
• A copy of a prescription or medication packaging.
• A hospital appointment letter.

Failure to provide medical evidence when requested may result in the absence being recorded as unauthorised.