Regular school attendance is crucial for your child’s academic achievement, overall well-being, and broader development. When children attend school consistently, they have the opportunity to engage with their peers, teachers, and educational resources. Good attendance patterns correlate with higher academic achievement and a more positive school experience. Moreover, attending school regularly helps instil responsible behaviour patterns that extend beyond the classroom.
- Mrs Gillan
- Suzy Campbell
Please contact the school office for further information.
To view our Attendance Policy click here.
Regular and punctual attendance at school is both a legal requirement and essential for our children to maximise their educational opportunities. In 2013, the Education Regulations removed references to family holidays and extended leave. The amendments made clear that head teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless ‘exceptional circumstances’ exist. ‘Exceptional circumstances’ can be described as rare, significant, unavoidable, short and that the absence could not reasonably be scheduled at another time.
Reasons for exceptional circumstances should be put in writing to the Headteacher for consideration by the Governing Body and no more than 5 days will be authorised. This absence will be marked as a ‘C’ code. Family holidays during term time are classed as unauthorised absence and will be marked as a ‘G’ code. Other unauthorised absences include shopping, visiting relatives, buying shoes, going for a haircut, parent(s)/siblings unwell and any unsatisfactory or no reason provided for absence will be marked as an ‘O’ code.
School supports the view that every day in school makes a difference and discourages parents from taking children unnecessarily out of school. If a child is absent and no contact has been made by the parent or carer to clarify the reason for absence, the absence will be marked as ‘O’ which is unauthorised. If a reason is supplied at a later date, it is at the discretion of the school as to whether the mark is amended. Following the first day of absence, reporting procedure ensures the safety and wellbeing of all of our pupils.
Unauthorised absence will be followed up with home visits carried out, in particular prior to and at the end of school holiday periods and where there are linked sibling absences. Medical evidence can be requested for absence of more than 3 days at either end of a school holiday. Should a child be referred to the Education Welfare Officer, or if attendance is below 90%, sickness absence may be marked as unauthorised until medical evidence is provided. All unauthorised absence may be subject to a penalty notice (see Penalty Notice section below). Unauthorised absence of 20 days or more can result in a child being removed from the school roll.
Requests for leave will not be granted in the following circumstances:
- Immediately before and during assessment periods
- When a pupil’s attendance record shows any unauthorised absence
- Where a pupil’s authorised absence record is already above 10 percent for any reason
If parents take their child out of school during term-time without authorisation from the headteacher, they may be subject to sanctions such as penalty fines.
Rochdale Council Penalty Information:
If you take your child, or children, out of school without authorisation for 5 or more days, in a 10 week school period, we will issue you with a school attendance penalty notice.
The amount you’ll be fined depends on how many times you take your child, or children, out of school without authorisation.
- The first time: you will need to pay £80 per parent, per child. If you don’t pay within 28 days the amount will be increased to £160 per parent, per child.
- The second time within 3 years: you will need to pay £160 per parent, per child within 28 days. There is no reduction in payment.
- The third time within 3 years: the case will be presented directly to the magistrates’ court and a fine of up to £2,500 can be issued.
If you don’t pay your penalty notice on time, we may refer the case to the magistrates’ court.
Pay Rochdale Borough Council – School attendance penalty notice
Parents and carers are asked to contact the school office on the first morning of absence and no later than 9.15 am. Absence can be reported by phone call, email or in person at the school office with details of the child’s name and class, who is reporting the absence and the reason for the absence. Please be as detailed as possible with the reason so the school is aware of any potentially contagious infections within the school. We will assume that a child remains ill on the following day; there is no requirement to call the office again until the third day of absence. Failure to provide a reason for absence can result in unauthorised absence, home visits and penalty notice referrals. Where there is genuine cause for concern about the veracity of an illness, school will request medical evidence to support illness. In the case of absence falling below 90%, we may also request medical evidence if we feel it is having an adverse effect on a child’s attendance and attainment. Medical evidence can take the form of prescriptions, appointment cards, emails, screenshots etc. rather than doctors’ notes.
We value and recognise the importance of good attendance and have systems and processes in place to make sure attendance in managed effectively for all children. We regularly analyse attendance data to identify pupils who have consistently high attendance, those who have shown improvements in their attendance and to identify pupils who may be vulnerable. We will provide support for those who may have lower rates of attendance and again I ask that you work with school if you have any issues with your child being able to attend school regularly. We are always here to support.
