Attendance Guide For Parents
Parents’ Responsibilities: In accepting a place at the school parents are accepting the ethos of high expectations for good attendance
Research proves that there is a very clear relationship between excellent school attendance and academic achievement. Year after year, the pupils with the best school attendance achieve the best results. We are passionate at Beecroft about providing pupils with the best possible life chances and as such, know they have to ‘be here to get there.’ Attendance at school is the law (statutory)
Start Time: 8.40am (Pupils can arrive at 8.30am and come straight into the classroom for extra work and support).
Register Closes 8.50am (The child is then absent)
Finish 3.15pm from September 2022
All pupils at Beecroft Primary are set an attendance target of 96% or above.
Parents, carers and families are therefore asked to ensure that their child/children are in school every day of term. Pupils arrive at 8.30 for a 8.40am start. (register closes at 8.50am)
Attendance: Attendance at school is the law.
The government is 'stepping up' expectation with attendance - the majority of our Beecroft parents ensure that their child attends every day the school is open and are absent only when there is a statutory reason (illness). However, the government's new list says all parents are expected to:
- Book any medical appointments around the school day when possible. (Not during lessons.)
- Only request leave of absence in exceptional circumstances and do so a month in advance. (Not holidays/extended leave in term time – These must stop and parents taking these will be fined.) All leave/holidays will NOT be authorised.
- Notify the school office as soon as possible if their child has to be unexpectedly absent (e.g. sickness)
Number 1 and 2 can be improved upon by some of our parents, as leave for reasons other than illness is unacceptable. (At 20 days a child loses their place)
Pupils’ attendance is monitored against our Traffic Light Group system:
| Green | 100% - 96% + | It is important to celebrate pupils achievement of 100% attendance. They will receive half termly certificates/ end of year medals and entry into prize draws Pupils in this group have excellent attendance. |
| Yellow | 95% and below | Pupils in this group are having too many days off and will need to work on their attendance. Their attendance will be monitored by the class teacher to avoid it dropping further along with phone calls from the attendance officer |
| Amber | 91% | Pupils in this group are becoming a serious concern. They will receive a home visit. Parents will be invited in for a SAP meeting with the head to establish a way forward with improving your child’s attendance |
| Red | 90% and below | These pupils are a serious concern. This is classed as persistently absent.
There will be a SAP meeting held in school with the Head/ Deputy/ attendance officer.
If attendance does not improve the case will be passed on to Leeds City Council Education Wellfare Officer which may result in: - A penalty charge notice - A prosecution in either the Family or Magistrates Court. - Loss of your child’s place at Beecroft |
Parent Attendance Process:
If a child is sick/ill telephone the school 0113 2618820 on the first day of absence before 9.00 am and provide a reason.
- If we do not receive communication, a parent will receive a phone call home from one of our Attendance Officers Mrs Hulme or Mrs Craven.
- A home visit may be made depending on the child’s attendance record and the nature of the absence.
- On returning to school parents must take responsibility to help the child catch up on work missed.
Home visits will be conducted by the Attendance Officer (Mrs Hulme) and the Head/Deputy if a pupil’s attendance is of concern. The purpose of making home visits is to have a conversation with families about their young person’s attendance, complete a safeguarding check and offer support where applicable.
School Attendance Panel Meeting: SAP
Parents are invited into school to discuss attendance at 91% and 90% and below (Persistent absence). The discussion is to set targets for improvement and to ensure that things will improve quickly. Any barriers to good attendance are discussed. A parent contract will result.
Extended Leave and holidays in term time are not approved and this is often the cause of low attendance at Beecroft. (Visiting family in other countries is not an exceptional circumstance) 20 days leave will result in the child losing their place in school.
Please be aware that Beecroft Primary works closely with Leeds City Council and will transfer any cases of persistently poor attendance for possible prosecution in either the Family or Magistrates Court
The table below shows the importance of attendance to your child:
