Attendance

Research shows a direct link between high attendance and success at school.
We will:
- check that pupils are at school every day;
- follow up and check the absence of persistent non-attenders;
- phone home on the first day of absence to check where absent children are
- follow up an explained absence by phone call and email, and meetings for persistent absentees
- aim for an attendance rate of at least 96%.
- monitor school attendance data of individual and groups and target our support towards removing barriers to attendance for individuals and groups who need it most;
- discuss poor attendance with parents to understand any barriers the pupil or family might be facing;
- facilitate support for families to help remove identified barriers to attendance. This could include support through the local authority attendance team, access to early help, such as parenting service or SEND support or Harrow Children's Services;
- where absent persists and support offered is not being engaged with, we will communicate the consequences to parents. This may include formalising support through a parenting contract or education supervision order.
- when all avenues of support have been exhausted and support has not worked or being engaged with, the Local Authority can enforce attendance through a statutory intervention or prosecution to protect a pupil's right to an education;
- share and discuss attendance data with the Governing Board on a termly basis.
Parents:
- by law, must ensure that their child attends school;
- should arrange dental and doctor’s appointments out of school hours or during school holidays, whenever possible;
- make sure that their child arrives on time between 8.35am and 8.45am, when classroom doors are open for ‘soft-start’;
- or if they arrive after 8.45am, sign-in at the school office;
- must use the guidance from the NHS to see if your child is too ill for school https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
- must contact the school on the first day their child is absent from school.