Attendance

Growing, achieving and flourishing together in mind, body and spirit.

Why is attendance at school so important?

Maintaining high attendance at school is crucial for several reasons. Consistent attendance ensures that children receive a continuous and comprehensive education, which is essential for building a strong foundation in key subjects like reading, writing, and mathematics. Regular attendance also fosters a sense of routine and discipline, helping children develop good habits that will benefit them throughout their lives. Being present in school allows children to engage in social interactions with their peers, which is vital for developing social skills and emotional intelligence. High attendance rates are often linked to better academic performance and a greater likelihood of future success, making it a key factor in a child's overall development and well-being.

How do I know if my child is too ill for school?

Obviously, children do get poorly from time to time and occasionally this may cause them to miss school. If you are unsure about whether your child is too ill for school or not, please read this handy guide from the NHS which is aptly entitled 'is my child too ill for school?'

Some children at St George's may also contract one of the common early childhood infectious diseases like chickenpox. It is also important to know how long contagious periods last. The following link called managing specific infectious diseases is a really useful guide for deciding when to keep your little ones at home and when it’s fine for them to join us.

Attendance and the law

Please note that from 19 August 2024, a new national framework for penalty notices has been introduced, following changes to legislation.

Parents/carers have a legal duty to ensure their child who is of compulsory school age receives an efficient, full-time education. Parents/carers are therefore committing an offence if they fail to ensure the regular and punctual attendance of their child at the school at which the child is registered unless the absence has been authorised by the school.

All leave of absences from school can only be agreed by the school in advance, so it is therefore very important that you apply to the school by completing an S2 form as far in advance of any absence as is reasonably possible. Please be aware that a school can only grant leave in ‘exceptional circumstances’.

In situations where a child accumulates 10 or more unauthorised absences (the equivalent of 5 school days) within any six-month period, parents/carers will make themselves liable to receiving a Penalty Notice per parent/carer per child.

The Penalty Notice carries a penalty of £80 if paid in full within 21 calendar days or £160 if paid in full after this time but within 28 days. We are unable to accept part or late payments and there is no legal right to appeal the Penalty Notice once it has been issued. If a Penalty Notice goes unpaid, this is likely to result in Court proceedings being taken against you for an offence of failing to ensure regular school attendance contrary to section 444 Education Act 1996. If convicted, you may face a fine of up to £2500 and/or a maximum 3 month’s imprisonment.

You are reminded to read both the School’s Attendance Policy regarding taking holidays in term time and the Local Authority’s Penalty Notice Code of Conduct.