Is your child missing out -What you need to know!

Why is it important for children not to miss School?

It is important that your child attends school regularly. As a parent/guardian you are legally responsible for making sure this happens.

What about authorised absence?

• Of course, there may be times when your child has to miss School because he/she is ill. This has to be expected and you should notify the School by phone using the Absence Line to leave a message or provide a written note on the first day of absence. If you fail to do this you may receive a phone call to investigate your child’s absence.

• Children may also have to attend a medical or dental appointment in school time. However, you should try to make routine appointments such as dental check-ups during the school holidays or after school hours.

• Any absences must be requested as far in advance as possible. Absences can only be authorised by the School.

• Unacceptable reasons for missing school include shopping and birthdays.

What about holidays in term time?

You should not expect the School to agree to an absence for a holiday during term time, the law says that Schools have the discretion to grant up to ten days authorised absence in a school year.

Should it be necessary to take a pupil out of School in term time you must write to Mr. Berwitz giving details of the proposed absence in advance of booking, giving us sufficient time to consider your application. We will not authorise holidays in term time for pupils in Years 10 & 11 or for any pupils during exam periods.

Taking a holiday during term time means that children miss important school time – both educationally and for other school activities. It will be difficult for them to catch up on work later on. The School, taking into account factors like the timing of the holiday and the child’s attendance record, considers each application individually.

What happens if my child does not attend school regularly?

We are responsible by law for reporting poor attendance to the LEA.

The school has a dedicated Youth Attendance Officer who monitors school attendance. If your child is not attending school regularly, the YAO may visit or write to you and will work with you to address your child’s attendance difficulties. At Hall Mead we have various mentors and personal advisers who may also work with the children on their attendance.

As a parent, you are committing an offence if you fail to make sure that your child attends school regularly, even if they are missing school without your knowledge. A fixed penalty may be issued resulting in an initial fine of £50 increasing to £100 if payment is not made within 28 days.

This information has been extracted from a DFES publication.

SCG

25.6.07