Why is it important to attend school?

If students are to achieve their potential, good attendance and punctuality are critical. The link between attendance and achievement is well documented.

We want all our students to achieve the very best results that they can. Irregular attendance, can, however, have a significant impact on student achievement.

Students with irregular attendance…

• Can lose friendships or become socially isolated
• Are less likely to feel part of the school
• Miss out on extracurricular opportunities
• Fall behind with work or lose the thread of the topics being taught
• Often become de-motivated on return to school

What is good attendance?

Parents/carers and students often become confused about what good attendance is. The school attendance target is 95% and above. The following is a useful guide for parents:

100% Outstanding

97% - 99% Excellent

95% - 97% Good

92% - 95% Advise improvement

90% - 92% Cause for concern

Below 90% Serious cause for concern

It should be remembered that 90% attendance is equivalent to one day of absence every fortnight. Over an academic year this amounts to four weeks of absence.

Notifying School when your child is unwell

Please do read the following guidance if you are unsure as to whether your child is too ill to attend school.

Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Please email or call the school office by 9am on the day that your child will not be attending because of illness. 

office@stleonardslowerschool.co.uk

01525 237253

Leave of Absence in Term Time 

Amendments to the The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 make clear that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Headteachers should determine the number of school days a child/student can be away from school if the leave is granted.

Requests for leave of absence will only be authorised where there are exceptional circumstances.

It is for the Headteacher and Governing Body of each school to decide what constitutes an exceptional circumstance.

Any request for leave of absence in term-time must be made in writing to the Headteacher. A form is available from the school office.

If a leave of absence request is not authorised and the absence is still taken, there is the possibility of being penalised. The Penalty Notice can be up to £60 for each parent/carer and for each child absent from school. If the parent/carer does not pay the Penalty Notice it may lead to a prosecution.

Schools are not obliged to provide work for pupils during leave of absence taken in term time.

Finally All requests for leave of absence in term time are considered on an individual basis and are at the complete discretion of the Headteacher.