Attendance
Pupils' absence during term time can seriously disrupt their continuity of learning. Not only do they miss the teaching provided on the days they are away, but they are also less prepared for lessons after their return. There will be an inevitable and significant negative impact on your child's progress and the absence can create the risk of poor results for your child.
There is considerable evidence to demonstrate a clear link between attendance and results and the subsequent impact on children's future life chances. The attached sheet graphically summarises the impact on children's learning of absence at various levels.
Attendance Tracker
Term Time Holidays & Unauthorised Absence
We ask you to avoid taking holiday during the school term - all requests for permission for a pupil holiday are considered in keeping with our Attendance Policy (see below). Please note: absence will not be authorised for years Y1, Y2 or Y6 during periods of statutory assessment.
A new National Framework for Penalty Notices for school absence, including unauthorised holiday absence, has been introduced following changes to the law. These new Government regulations came into effect from August 2024. This and other changes can be found in the Department for Education Working together to improve school attendance.
What are the changes?
There is no longer the scope to authorise a term-time holiday in any circumstances. “Generally,
the DfE does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of
leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance.” DFE 2024
Threshold for Fines
There will be a new national threshold of 10 unauthorised sessions for any reason (equivalent
to 5 school days) within a rolling 10 school week period. The first time this threshold is met, a
notice to improve letter will be sent, which will include a timeframe for improvement. This
monitoring period will be 20 days. If there is any unauthorised absence within this monitoring period, a penalty notice will be issued by Kent County Council.
Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each child and the amount will be £160 if paid within 28 days, reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
If a second penalty notice is issued within a rolling 3-year period, then the charge will be at a flat rate of £160 per parent per child if paid within 28 days.
In both instances failure to pay the penalty in full at the end of the 28-day period may result in prosecution by the Kent PRU and Attendance Service.
In the event of three or more periods of unauthorised absence within a 3 rolling year period, a
penalty notice will not be issued. A statutory attendance referral will be made to the Kent PRU and Attendance Service who will consider the case for prosecution.
Registration
At East Farleigh, we use an electronic registration system. This method is directly linked to your child’s education record and will enable us, (and the local authority), to view attendance data and determine levels of authorised and unauthorised absence for your child. We expect a minimum of 96% attendance from all pupils (preferably higher).
When collecting and returning your children to and from school during the course of the school day, please ensure you sign in or out at the office. If you are changing your collection arrangements, please ensure both your children and the office know who is collecting them.
Studybugs
East Farleigh Primary has recently introduced a new and more efficient and secure system for reporting children’s absence due to illness, called Studybugs. If you haven’t already, please get the free Studybugs app, or register on the Studybugs website, and use it to tell us whenever your child’s ill and unable to attend school.
Get the app or register now (https://studybugs.com/about/parents)
Top 3 reasons why we use Studybugs
- It’s integrated with our systems so we know right away if your child is unaccounted for.
- It’s quick and easy to register and use and automatically reminds you to keep us posted.
- You’ll be helping the NHS and other public health organisations improve children’s health. (https://studybugs.com/about/schools)
Attendance Policy
