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 Head can grant a leave of absence when a pupil needs to be absent from school with permission. The Head will restrict leaves of absence to the specific circumstance set out in regulation 11 of the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations. These circumstances are:

• Taking part in a regulated performance or employment abroad

• Attending an interview

• Study leave

• A temporary, time-limited part-time timetable

• Exceptional circumstances*

*The Head will consider a leave of absence for other exceptional circumstances at their discretion. This must be requested in advance by a parent who the pupil normally lives with. The Head will consider each application individually taking into account the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind the request. If a leave of absence is granted, the Head will determine the length of time the pupil can be away from school. If a pupil fails to return on the expected date and contact is not received from, or made with the parents, school will seek advice from the Local Authority. This could result in a possible children missing from education procedure being instigated.

Term Time Holidays

Generally, the Government does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or leave of absence for the purposes of leisure or recreation to be an exceptional circumstance.

All absences associated with a family holiday (without exceptional circumstances) during term time will be marked as unauthorised on the register. Any parents known to have removed their child from school for the sole purpose of a holiday may be referred to the Local Authority by the Head and be issued with a fixed penalty notice.

A leave of absence request form must be completed and can be collected from the school office or found on the policy page of the school website here. The request must be submitted as soon as possible and no later than a week before the date of absence.

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.