Late/Absence Procedures
We encourage and expect children to attend every day, when the school is in session, as long as they are fit and healthy enough to do so. At St Gilbert's we believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is development of positive attitudes towards school. Therefore we strive to make our school a happy and rewarding experience for all children.
Under the Education (pupil Registration) Regulations 1995 the governing body is responsible for making sure the school keeps an attendance register that records which pupils are present at the start of both the morning and the afternoon sessions of the school day. This register will also indicate whether an absence was authorised or unauthorised. We ask that if your child is unable to attend school, that the school office is notified daily.
All of a child’s absences from school are classified as either ‘authorised’ or ‘unauthorised’. An authorised absence is where legitimate reasons have been given to school and the absence is classed as unavoidable. An unauthorised absence may be where no reason for the absence is offered to school, where a child plays truant or where the reason offered for the absence is not genuine or is avoidable.
Parents/Carers are asked to contact school by telephone from 8am to give a reason for any absence. Following this notification, we can only authorise an absence in genuine cases of:
- Sickness
- Emergency medical or dental treatments
- Hospital appointments
- Family emergencies
Under new legislation from DFE holidays during term time are not permitted except in exceptional circumstances under the discretion of the Headteacher. Unauthorised holidays taken during term time will result in £60 fine per pupil per parent. If the fine is not paid within 21 days, the fine will increase to £120. If a child’s absence has been recorded as sickness but is later proven than an unauthorised holiday has been taken, a fine can also be issued after the child returns to school. (This applies to children of statutory school age ie the term after their 5th birthday).
Following Salford City Council guidelines if your child has 10 sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absences in a year, you will be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £60. The issuing of a penalty notice is considered appropriate.
Attendance Concerns
The Headteacher discusses attendance concerns with the EWO each term. Poor attendance is carefully monitored by the school. Where attendance is a concern (it falls below 90% level) parents will be alerted by letter.
If attendance does not improve or falls below 90% parents will be invited into school to discuss the concern.
Where attendance drops to 80% or below parents and the Educational Welfare Officer will be invited into school so that ways to improve the situation can be swiftly sought.
If parents do not respond to letters, the Educational Welfare will be contacted immediately.
REMEMBER- YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION IS OUR PRIME CONCERN
We need to work together to ensure your child can access it.
Where parents have concerns or family difficulties which affect attendance please contact school to discuss how we can support you.
Where children have 100% attendance over a term they will be rewarded with a certificate.
The class with the highest weekly attendance will also be rewarded.
Punctuality
It is crucial that parents/carers take responsibility for getting children to school on time each day.
We encourage all children to arrive slightly before the bell which rings at 8:40am. Late arrivals may have already missed out on an important part of the day. Learning begins immediately. Also they can disrupt their classes and teachers when they enter the classroom and this can cause embarrassment for the child.
The start of the day is at 8:50am. Children arriving after this time have to enter school through the main entrance, where their parent/carer will have to fill in a Lateness Form held at Reception. Children must be accompanied to the office by an adult if late.
The parents of children who are persistently late for school will be sent a letter informing them of this unacceptable situation. Persistent latecomers will be referred to the Education Welfare Officer.
Illness in school
Although we do the best we can, there is no comfortable, quiet place for children in the school when they are ill. We will contact you and look after your child until you collect him/her if they are unwell. If a child suffers a serious accident, the parents will be contacted immediately. Could we encourage you to keep your child at home if he/she appears unwell. It is almost certain that coming to school will make matters worse and prolong the recovery. Please ensure that all emergency contact numbers are kept completely up to date.