Attendance matters

You need to make sure that your child is attending school every day and on time. You will be breaking the law if you fail to do so unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The Education Act 1996 states that: “If a child of compulsory school age, who is a registered pupil at a school, fails to attend regularly at the school, his parent is guilty of an offence”.

There are two offences relating to parental responsibility for ensuring regular attendance at school or alternative provision:

1. If a registered pupil is absent without authorisation, then the parent is guilty of an offence under Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996. A conviction for this offence can result in a fine of up to £1,000.
2. If the parent knows that their child is failing to attend regularly at the school and fails to cause him/her to do so, he/she is guilty of an offence under Section 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996. This is known as an aggravated offence. A conviction for this offence may result in a substantial fine up to a maximum of £2,500 and/or a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months and/or a community penalty.

We follow attendance guidance from the Department for Education and the local authority in developing our policy and procedures with the aim of maximising the attendance of every student in school. We are keen to work with you in ensuring that your child can attend both regularly and punctually.

Most students attend well and on time almost every day and we appreciate your efforts in helping them to do that. However, we understand that sometimes there can be barriers to attending school, whether temporarily or more long term. We are keen to work with you to help support you and your child if this occurs. As soon as you are aware of any barriers to your child attending school, please make us aware.

The role of the student

Attend school every day, on time and prepared to learn. 

The role of parents and carers 

Establish a good routine in the mornings and evenings so that your child is prepared for the school day ahead.

Make sure your child attends school daily and on time (this is a legal duty).

Arrange dental and medical appointments outside of school hours.

Call the school telephone number (0191 4606004 Option 2) before 8.30am each day if you need to report an absence.

Take family holidays outside of term time (holidays in term time result in a Fixed Penalty Fine)

Discuss any problems or barriers with the school – staff are here to help and will be supportive.

The role of the school 

To set clear routines and expectations for attendance, lateness and absence, supporting students, parents and carers in achieving these.

To keeping accurate registers of attendance.

To contact parents or carers by telephone on each day of absence where no contact has been made.

To conduct home visits where an absence is a particular cause for concern. 

• Establish a good routine in the mornings and evenings so that your child is prepared for the school day ahead.
• Make sure your child attends school daily and follows the school rules.
• Ensure your child arrives at school on time.
• Always arrange dental and medical appointments outside school hours.
• Always inform the school if your child is absent.
• If your child is not attending school as you expect they may be putting themselves at risk – Who are they with? What are they doing?
• Take family holidays outside term time- holidays in Term Time will result in a Fixed Penalty Fine.
• Talk to your child about school and take an interest in their schoolwork (including homework).
• Attend parent evenings and school events.
• Praise and reward your child’s achievements at school.
• Always support school staff in their efforts to promote a positive attitude to learning.
• Discuss any problems or difficulties with the school – staff are here to help and will be supportive.

Stage 1

Initial concern sent out to parents explaining the impact of poor attendance on student welfare and outcomes.

Stage 2

Second letter send out to parents detailing the legal responsibility of parents alongside a parent survey. This gives the attendance team more information to help to support attendance improvement. The student’s attendance is monitored for 10 days following this intervention.

Stage 3

1. Student currently has an attendance percentage of 93% or below.
2. Student has unauthorised absences codes in the previous ten school days and has previously been issued Stage 2.

Parents and carers will be issued with an Attendance Action Plan during a meeting with the Attendance Team. This will allow the school to work alongside the family to support improved attendance. The student’s attendance will then be monitored for twenty school days.

Stage 4

If the Attendance Team believes it has exhausted all possible strategies, a referral to the Local Authority will be made for enforcement action and legal proceedings will commence.

The school day starts at 8:45am. Students will receive a late mark if they arrive after this time. The register closes at 9.30 am. If a student arrives after registration has closed, they will receive a U mark which is an unauthorised absence.

Please give the school as much notice as possible of any medical appointments that are due to take place during the school day. Where possible, appointments should be made out of school time. If this is not possible, your child should only miss the minimum amount of lesson time. If a student is well enough, they should return to school following the appointment.

If you are asked for medical evidence you will need to provide copies of GP appointment cards or letters, medication details or any other relevant information. Failure to provide this will result in an unauthorised absence.

Any child or young person who is absent from school due to a holiday will miss important learning and will fall behind with their schoolwork.

In each school year there are 190 statutory school days, allowing plenty of opportunities for holidays to be arranged outside term time. Holidays taken during term time are recorded as an unauthorised absence and could result in parents with parental responsibility being issued with a fine.

The school’s request form for a leave of absence is available here.

For information, the Government’s National Framework for Penalty Notices includes the following: 

Penalty Notice Fines will be issued for term time leave of 5 or more consecutive days or considered for 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10-week period.

The first time a penalty notice is issued for term time leave or irregular attendance, the amount will be £160 per parent per child paid within 28 days, reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.

Penalty Notice Fines are issued to each parent, for each child that was absent.

Who to contact for support

The following people are here to support you if you are experiencing difficulties getting your child into school.

Head of Year 7 – Mr Thompson –  contactyear7@kingsmeadow.org.uk 

Head of Year 8 – Mrs Taylor – contactyear8@kingsmeadow.org.uk 

Head of Year 9 – Mrs Diston – contactyear9@kingsmeadow.org.uk 

Head of Year 10 – Mr Charlton – contactyear10@kingsmeadow.org.uk 

Head of Year 11 – Miss Hornsby – contactyear11@kingsmeadow.org.uk 

Head of Sixth Form – Mrs Rafferty – sixthform@kingsmeadow.org.uk 

Attendance Officer – Mrs Oliver – attendance@kingsmeadow.org.uk 

Assistant Head Teacher: attendance – Mrs Richardson – attendance@kingsmeadow.org.uk