At St Nicolas Church of England Academy we place great importance on regular attendance at the academy as we know that missing education has a really detrimental impact on the progress that children make.

Regular attendance is a vital part of a child's academic and social success. The academy seeks to ensure that all its pupils receive a full-time education to make the most of their opportunities to realise their full potential.  Staff work with pupils and their families to ensure each pupil attends the academy regularly and punctually. We can help with advice and support if you are experiencing any issues around attendance and punctuality.

Nationally, In 2018/19, just 40% of persistently absent children in Year 6 achieved the expected standard, compared with 84% of pupils who were regular attenders. But attendance is important for more than just attainment. Regular school attendance can facilitate positive peer relationships, which is a protective factor for mental health and well being.

Children should be at the academy on time (between 8:35-8:45am), every day the academy is open, unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable. Failure to secure a child’s regular attendance at school may be a criminal offence under Section 444(1) or 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996.

Every half-day absence has to be classified by the academy, (not by the parents), as either AUTHORISED or UNAUTHORISED.  Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from the academy for a good reason like illness or other unavoidable cause. 

Occasionally a child may be reluctant to attend the academy. Any problems with regular attendance are best sorted out between the academy, the parents and the child. If a child is reluctant to attend, it is never better to cover up their absence or to give in to pressure to excuse them from attending. This gives the impression that attendance does not matter and may make things worse.

Punctuality
Being on time is important to your child's education. If a child is persistently late, they miss the start of lessons which may have a negative impact on their learning, confidence and self-esteem. Lateness disrupts your child, their class and the staff working with them.  School begins at 8.35, when the children come into the academy. Classroom doors close at 8.45, after which time children should enter through the main office.

Being 5 minutes late every day will result in your child losing around three learning days a year.
Being 15 minutes late every day equates to having two complete weeks off a year.
Being 30 minutes late daily equates to losing nineteen learning days a year.

Persistent lateness can result in a penalty notice being issued, which carries a fine.

Sickness

If your child is absent through sickness or any unavoidable cause, please contact the academy by telephone by 9.00am on the first day of absence. This will be an authorised absence.

It is a good idea to refer to the NHS guidance called 'Is my child too ill for school?'

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Appointments of any kind, such as a doctor’s or dentist appointment, should be arranged outside of academy hours where possible.  If this is unavoidable, please let the academy office know as soon as possible and evidence may be requested in order to authorise.

Children returning to the academy after illness should clearly be fit to do so and free from any infection.

Leave of Absence

• The law states a leave of absence may only be granted by a school if an application is made in advance and if it considers there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.

Expectations

• A leave of absence is granted entirely at the school’s discretion. Permission for a Leave of Absence from a school may only be given by a person who the school’s proprietor has authorised to do so (an authorised person). 

• Schools must judge each application individually considering the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind each request. 

• Generally, a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation would not constitute an exceptional circumstance.

• Where a leave of absence is granted, the school will determine the number of days a pupil can be absent from school.

• When making an application for Leave of Absence parents are advised to give sufficient information and time to allow the Head teacher the opportunity to consider all the exceptional circumstances and to notify the parents of their decision. The school may also request further information on the application and supporting documentation where appropriate.

• It is advised that if the resident parent has not received notification or a response regarding the leave of absence application, it is their responsibility to ascertain if the leave is authorised prior to the start of the leave.

• The school can only consider applications for Leave of Absence which are made by the resident parent. i.e the parent with whom the child normally resides.

• Where applications for Leave of Absences are made in advance and refused, the child is expected to be in school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an “unauthorised” absence. Where a leave of absence is requested but additional days take either prior to or after the request, they may be considered as part of the leave of absence.

• Leave of Absences which are not made in advance cannot be authorised in line with legislation.  This will result in the absence being recorded as ‘unauthorised’. 

• All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a Leave of Absence will be referred to the Warwickshire Attendance Service of Warwickshire County Council. Penalty notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Council’s Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices and in the first instance, as an alternative to prosecution proceedings. 

• Where a Penalty Notice is not paid within the timeframe set out in that Notice, the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal prosecution proceedings under S444 of Education Act 1996.

The law relating to Penalty Notices changed with effect from 19 August 2024. Therefore, Penalty Notices issued for Leave of Absence taken from September 2024 will be issued in accordance with the updated legislation.

Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example 2 children and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices – 4 in total). 

• First Leave of Absence Offence:  The amount of £160 to be paid within 28 days, this is reduced to £80 each child if paid within 21 days.

• Second Leave of Absence Offence within a 3 year period (from the date of issue of the first penalty notice): The amount of £160 paid within 28 days.  No reduced amount.

• Third Leave of Absence offence within a 3 year period (from the date of issue of the first penalty notice). A Penalty Notice will not be issued and the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal prosecution proceedings under S444 of Education Act 1996.

A leave of absence request form can be collected from the school office or found on the policy page of the school website here.

Academy Closure

Academy closures will be announced as soon as the information has been verified and become available via the following methods:

• ParentMail text and email

• Warwickshire.gov.uk/schoolclosures

• Academy website

Our full Attendance Policy and Leave request form is available on our Policies page here.