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Ellen Wilkinson
Primary School

Attendance & Punctuality

At EWPS we believe it is important that children attend school "every day & on time"

Ellen Wilkinson is a successful school; you and your child play a part in making it so.  We aim to encourage all members of the school community to reach out for excellence.  For children to gain the greatest benefit from their education, it is vital that they attend school regularly and punctually. Your child should be at school in good time for the start of the school day, every day the school is open, unless they are genuinely ill or there is some other unavoidable reason.

Some children are reluctant to go to school and say they do not feel well.  It is for you as the adult to judge whether they are genuinely unwell, or just unwilling.  It will be better for them in the long run to go to school, rather than avoid it, as days off mean they will fall further behind and this will make them even more reluctant. However, please make sure that you inform us if this is the case so that we can help address what is concerning them. Your job as the parent is to encourage them to attend. 

Ensuring your child’s regular attendance at school is your legal responsibility and permitting absence without good reason is an offence in law and may result in legal action being taken, or a Penalty Notice being issued (see below).

Punctuality

When parents complete the admissions forms for a new enrolment they are advised that school starts for children at the following times:

Year 6 - 8.30 am

Reception to year 5 - 8.40 am

Nursery - 8.30 am (for first sessions) & 12.30 for second session

Children enter through the allocated gates at their given time. Families with siblings should use the youngest child’s gate. Please note for safeguarding purposes parents & carers should supervise their children until they enter the school gates (unless in year 6). The gates close 5 minutes after opening and any child after this time is classed as late. All late arrivals must therefore go to the main reception at the front of the school where a late mark will be recorded.

When parents complete the admissions forms for a new enrolment they are advised that school starts for children at the following times:

  • Year 6 - 8.30 am
  • Reception to year 5 - 8.40 am
  • Nursery - 8.30 am (for first sessions) & 12.30 for second session

Children enter through the allocated gates at their given time. Families with siblings should use the youngest child’s gate. Please note for safeguarding purposes parents & carers should supervise their children until they enter the school gates (unless in year 6). The gates close 5 minutes after opening and any child after this time is classed as late. All late arrivals must therefore go to the main reception at the front of the school where a late mark will be recorded.

Learning

Any absence affects the child’s learning, and the more they miss the harder it will be for them to catch up.  Research has shown that for every percentage point of absence, attainment is significantly lower.

Safeguarding

There is extensive research linking poor school attendance and exclusion with crime and anti-social behaviour, and risk of exploitation by unsuitable adults.  For this reason, failure to attend regularly will be regarded as a safeguarding issue.

Understanding absence percentages

You may wonder why a school would be concerned if your child’s attendance is under 96%.  This may make it easier to understand:

95% equates to 9.5 days = 2 weeks of learning missed
90% equates to 19 days = 4 weeks of learning missed
85% equates to 28.5 days = 5 ½ weeks of learning missed
80% equates to 38 days = 7 ½ weeks of learning missed

Even the brightest and most enthusiastic learner will find it hard to keep up with their work with these levels of absence.  That is why we encourage the highest attendance possible.

Understanding types of absence coding

Every half-day absence from school has to be classified by the school as authorised or unauthorised.  This is why information about the cause of any absence is always required, preferably in writing.  Medical evidence may also be required in the form of a copy of a prescription, GP note, etc.  Types of absence that are likely to be authorised are illness, medical or dental appointments (which unavoidably fall in school time) or emergencies.

Examples of types of absence that are not considered reasonable and which will be unauthorised under any circumstances are:

  • Going shopping with parents
  • Birthdays
  • Minding other younger children in the family
  • Staying at home because other members in the family are unwell
  • Day trips and holidays in term time that have not been agreed
  • Arriving at school too late to get a present mark
  • Truancy

Reluctant Attenders

You should do everything possible to encourage your child to attend.  However if the reason for their reluctance appears to be school-based, such as difficulty with work or bullying, please discuss this with the class teacher at the earliest opportunity and the school will do everything possible to sort the problem out.  Colluding with your child’s reluctance to attend is likely to make the matter worse.

Persistent Absense

A pupil is classed as a persistent absentee (PA pupil) when they miss 10% of school, which is equivalent to 90% and below in overall attendance percentage in one term. (This was a legal change as from September 2015) or more schooling across the school year, for whatever reason, whether it be authorised or unauthorised, or a mixture of both.  Absence at this level is doing considerable damage to a child’s educational prospects and we need parents’ full support and encouragement to tackle it.  PA pupils are tracked and monitored carefully through our pastoral system, and we combine this with tracking academic progress to assess the effect on the pupil’s attainment.  All our PA pupils and their parents are subject to an Action Plan, which may include allocation of some kind of support.

Parenting Contracts

You may be asked to participate in a Parenting Contract to support your child’s attendance.

These are initiated where school feels you may need help in influencing your child to attend properly.  They have no force in law, and are entered into voluntarily.  A meeting will be held to which you and your child will be invited.  The problems will be discussed and agreement reached as to what the school will do, the child will do and what you as parents/carers will do to try to improve the situation.  You may be offered some form of support such as counselling or parenting classes to assist you in setting boundaries and enforcing expectations of your child.

Reporting Your Child's Absence (Sickness etc.)

It is a parents'/carers' responsibility to report your child’s absence to the school in good time.

If your child is absent, you must:

  • Contact the school as early as possible on the first day of absence, either by telephone or in person, and
  • Send a note in on the first day they return with an explanation of the absence.

In addition, if your child has been absent to illness you may be asked to provide medical evidence i.e. appointment card/ letter, prescription or prescribed medicine label.  

You can also update us by using the Studybugs app - please click on the link here Studybugs - Sign In

Applications for Leave of Absence in Term Time (Exceptional Leave request)

This school’s policy is to strongly discourage leave during term time.

Any applications for leave in term time must be requested using an Application Request form. You can receive one of these by visiting the Main School Office. 

There is no automatic right to term time leave of absence, and your request is likely to be declined except in the most exceptional circumstances.

Due to changes in legislation (September 2013) applications by parents or carers of pupils to take annual family holidays during term time can no longer be authorised.  Any request for leave must be supported with an explanation of exceptional circumstances and can only be agreed by the Head teacher.

Please contact the school office by email : info@ellenwilkinson.newham.sch.uk and detail your request to the Headteacher. You must make any request a minimum of 7 days before any absence is due to take place.

Penalty Notices

Penalty Notices can now be issued for a range of attendance-related offences, including unauthorised term-time holidays, (this includes failure to return to school at the agreed time) poor attendance and poor punctuality, a child coming to the attention of the police in school time, or located twice or more in  truancy sweeps in 6 months.  Further details are available on www.newham.gov.uk/schools/Attendance.

  • Parents will be issued with Penalty Notices (fines) i.e. £60 per parent/carer per child if paid within 21 days, rising to £120 per parent/carer per child if not paid within 28 days of the receipt of the notice.
  • Non-payment will result in prosecution under Section 444 (1) of the Education Act 1996
  • Parents will be issued with Penalty Notices (fines) i.e. £60 per parent/carer per child if paid within 21 days, rising to £120 per parent/carer per child if not paid within 28 days of the receipt of the notice.
  • Non-payment will result in prosecution under Section 444 (1) of the Education Act 1996, which could lead to fines of up to £2,500 or even imprisonment.
  • In some cases action may be taken under the Children Act 1989 to protect the welfare and development of the child.

Your Contact Details

It is a parent/ carers responsibility to make sure that the contact details you have given to the school are kept up to date, so that in the event of an accident, emergency or any other need to contact you we have the correct details.

The following national codes will be used to record attendance information.

CODE

DESCRIPTION

MEANING

/

Present (AM)

Present

\

Present (PM)

Present

B

Educated off site (NOT Dual registration)

Approved Education Activity

C

Other Authorized Circumstances (not covered by another appropriate code/description)

Authorized absence

D

Dual registration (i.e. pupil attending other establishment)

Approved Education Activity

E

Excluded (no alternative provision made)

Authorized absence

F

Extended family holiday (agreed)

Authorized absence

G

Family holiday (NOT agreed or days in excess of agreement)

Unauthorized absence

H

Family holiday (agreed)

Authorized absence

I

Illness (NOT medical or dental etc. appointments)

Authorized absence

J

Interview

Approved Education Activity

L

Late (before registers closed)

Present

M

Medical/Dental appointments

Authorized absence

N

No reason yet provided for absence

Unauthorized absence

O

Unauthorized absence (not covered by any other code/description)

Unauthorized absence

P

Approved sporting activity

Approved Education Activity

R

Religious observance

Authorized absence

S

Study leave

Authorized absence

T

Traveler absence

Authorized absence

U

Late (after registers closed)

Unauthorized absence

V

Educational visit or trip

Approved Education Activity

W

Work experience

Approved Education Activity

X

Un timetabled sessions for non-compulsory school-age pupils

Not counted in possible attendances

Y

Enforced closure

Not counted in possible attendances

Z

Pupil not yet on roll

Not counted in possible attendances

#

School closed to pupils

Not counted in possible attendances

Useful school contacts

Attendance Manager

Lynn Wilson 0207 511 9414/ 9440

Head teacher

Sue Ferguson 0207 511 9414/ 9440

Legal References

Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 states that the ‘parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him/her to receive efficient full time education suitable to his/her age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs he/she may have, either by regular attendance at school, or otherwise.’

Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 places a duty on local authorities and governing bodies to have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State with regard to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and students under the age of 18.

The Children Act 1989 provides for a number of actions that can be taken to protect children’s safety and welfare, on the premise that the welfare of the child is paramount.

To view the attendance policy (Click here)