We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that all of our students have the best possible attendance at school.  A high level of attendance is essential for students to reach their full educational achievement, future aspirations, and to assist their social development.

Any absence from school means that a learner is missing vital education; research shows that this has a negative impact on attainment.

Parents, carers and school staff share the responsibility for ensuring that the law is upheld, by supporting and promoting excellent school attendance and punctuality for all.

The principles outlined in this policy are applicable for learners in all year groups at North Leamington School.

You can read our Attendance Policy here

• A request that parents telephone (01926 338711) or email attendance@northleamington.co.uk before 8.30am on each day of any absence, with the reason for absence and if possible how long the absence is likely to last
• Parents/carers must contact the school on each day of their child’s absence
• The school uses Groupcall communication system for student absence. The system will contact parents directly if a student is marked absent at registration and school has not been informed of a reason for the absence

Please see below for some FAQs on student attendance 

Attendance and Punctuality: Frequently Asked Questions for Parents and Carers

This document has been produced alongside our Attendance Policy here .

What is the school’s expectation for students’ attendance?

We believe that students should be in school for at least 96% of the school year. We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that all of our students have the best possible attendance at school. A high level of attendance is essential for students to reach their full educational achievement, future aspirations, and to assist their social development.

What do I do if my child is ill and cannot attend school?

• We request that parents telephone (01926 338711) or email (attendance@northleamington.co.uk) the school before 8.30am on each day of any absence, with the reason for absence and if possible how long the absence is likely to last
• Parents/carers must contact the school on each day of their child’s absence
• The school uses Groupcall communication system for student absence. The system will contact parents directly if a student is marked absent at registration and school has not been informed of a reason for the absence
• This system will ensure that both parents and school are aware of student absences and that students are absent and safe with their parents’ knowledge and permission
• If the school is not able to contact parents and there has been no message from home, then a phone call will be made to parents/carers
• Authorisation of a child’s absence is at the discretion of the school and parents/carers may be asked to provide medical evidence in order to support any absence

Sometimes my child is late. Is this okay?

In order to develop good learning habits and minimise interruption to learning, students should be punctual to lessons and to school. Students’ punctuality is monitored in line with our ‘Late Gate’ procedures.

We will build strong relationships with parents/carers to support in maintaining excellent punctuality, and will listen, plan and review the impact of support to address any concerns.

What happens if my child misses a lot of school?

Supporting children who are persistently absent (below 90% attendance):

• The school will use data to target children or groups of children who are at risk of persistent absence
• The school will listen to and understand students’ barriers to school ‘in school’ attendance
• The school will allocate professionals within school to support students and parents/carers
• The school will work with the Local Authority and other local partners to identify and reduce ‘out of school’ barriers

The school will intensify support where absence does not improve or earlier support is not engaged with

How will the school ensure students are safe and tackle absence together with parents and carers?

• The school will communicate with parents and carers on a regular basis
• The school will share a clear sequence with parents and carers where attendance becomes a concern for their child
• The school will monitor all students’ attendance
• The school will implement individual plans to improve attendance in agreement with parents and carers
• The school will deploy the necessary resources and expertise internally and externally to support
• The school will review the impact of individual plans and intensify support if initial support is not successful or not engaged with

What if my child has a medical appointment? 

Where possible, appointments should be made outside of school hours or in school holidays. We realise that sometimes this is not always possible.
Students should come into school  before and/or after their appointments where possible to ensure they miss as little learning time as possible.

My child does not want to attend school what should I do?

Try to find out the reason they do not want to attend school.

Contact the school by emailing/calling your child’s Form Tutor, Year Leader or the attendance team to discuss any issues we may be able to help with.

Try to establish routines so a calm environment is maintained in the morning that may help to tackle anxieties your child is feeling.

Praise your child for their efforts in school.

I would like to request time off school for my child. What should I do?

Leave of Absence

• The law states a leave of absence may only be granted by a school if an application is made in advance and if it considers there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.

Expectations

• A leave of absence is granted entirely at the school’s discretion. Permission for a Leave of Absence from a school may only be given by a person who the school’s proprietor has authorised to do so (an authorised person). 

• Schools must judge each application individually considering the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind each request. 

• Generally, a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation would not constitute an exceptional circumstance.

• Where a leave of absence is granted, the school will determine the number of days a pupil can be absent from school.

• When making an application for Leave of Absence parents are advised to give sufficient information and time to allow the Head teacher the opportunity to consider all the exceptional circumstances and to notify the parents of their decision. The school may also request further information on the application and supporting documentation where appropriate.

• It is advised that if the resident parent has not received notification or a response regarding the leave of absence application, it is their responsibility to ascertain if the leave is authorised prior to the start of the leave.

• The school can only consider applications for Leave of Absence which are made by the resident parent. i.e the parent with whom the child normally resides.

• Where applications for Leave of Absences are made in advance and refused, the child is expected to be in school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an “unauthorised” absence. Where a leave of absence is requested but additional days take either prior to or after the request, they may be considered as part of the leave of absence.

• Leave of Absences which are not made in advance cannot be authorised in line with legislation.  This will result in the absence being recorded as ‘unauthorised’. 

• All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a Leave of Absence will be referred to the Warwickshire Attendance Service of Warwickshire County Council. Penalty notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Council’s Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices and in the first instance, as an alternative to prosecution proceedings. 

• Where a Penalty Notice is not paid within the timeframe set out in that Notice, the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal prosecution proceedings under S444 of Education Act 1996.

Leave of Absence taken in the academic year 2024-25

The law relating to Penalty Notices changed with effect from 19 August 2024. Therefore, Penalty Notices issued for Leave of Absence taken from September 2024 will be issued in accordance with the updated legislation.

Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example 2 children and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices – 4 in total). 

• First Leave of Absence Offence:  The amount of £160 to be paid within 28 days, this is reduced to £80 each child if paid within 21 days.

• Second Leave of Absence Offence within a 3 year period (from the date of issue of the first penalty notice): The amount of £160 paid within 28 days.  No reduced amount.

• Third Leave of Absence offence within a 3 year period (from the date of issue of the first penalty notice). A Penalty Notice will not be issued and the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal prosecution proceedings under S444 of Education Act 1996.