Richmond School
Information for Parents | Attendance
ATTENDANCE
AIMS
The School aims to encourage excellent levels of attendance and punctuality with the intention of enabling all students to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available.
PRINCIPLES
This Attendance and Punctuality Policy should :
• Reflect and support the general aims of the school
• Promote excellent levels of attendance
• Provide clearly defined procedures and expectations that are easily understood by, and acceptable to students, staff, parents, carers, governors and all who visit the school
• Be an aid to staff in managing attendance
• Be clear, consistent and practical
ENCOURAGEMENT OF GOOD ATTENDANCE
School should encourage good attendance by :
• Recognising and rewarding 100% attendance
• Regular monitoring
• Communicating with student and parents/carers
• Liaising with educational social workers
Expectations :
Richmond School has a duty to provide appropriate education for our students who attend and parents/carers have a legal obligation to ensure that their children receive an education by regular attendance at school.
Parents/carers must ensure that a reason for absence is reported to school. This can happen in several ways.
• Telephone the school on the first day of absence
• Email the school on admin@richmondschool.net
• Send a letter in with the child upon return.
If after three consecutive days of absence no reason has been received then the school will contact the parents/carers.
HOLIDAYS
Term time dates are published in Parents’ Handbooks and are always available in student planners.
Leave of absence can be granted by the school for a family holiday if no more than ten school days (or in ‘exceptional circumstances’ for more than 10 days). Parents/carers should be reminded that they cannot expect, as of right, that the school will agree to a family holiday during term time.
A holiday form can be collected from reception and should be completed and returned to school when holiday dates are being planned. Parents/carers should also be aware that in planning a holiday certain ‘hot spots’ in the academic year should be avoided. Heads of Year are available to discuss this matter further.
REGISTRATION
Tutors :
Each week tutors automatically receive a list of students absent the previous week.
Tutors will chase up any missing absence notes.
After the second week without an absence note an automatic letter is generated. The tutor will either give this to the student or post it home (or dispose of it if the absence has been cleared). Letters left in the register will be sent home.
If a second letter is needed the following week, Tutors will inform Heads of Year who will instigate action.
Tutors are also expected to inform the Head of Year of any suspicious absence or any student who has been absent for three consecutive days without explanation.
Heads of Year :
On a regular basis Heads of Year get an overview of the year group allowing them to identify any patterns of absence, or individuals who are causing concern. This will include a tutor group male/female breakdown of attendance.
Regular contact is maintained with Educational Social Worker from Pupil and Parent Services (PPS) and any causes for concern are reported.
Under normal circumstances PPS cannot be accessed immediately to chase possible truanting. When this situation does arise either parents/carers are contacted or, (time permitting) the Head of Year may do a home visit.
Every six weeks an attendance percentage summary is generated for years 7 to 11. Tutor groups causing concern are identified and actioned.
Head of Key Stage 3 and 4 and Head of Key Stage 5:
The Head of Key Stage will review and monitor attendance on a half termly basis liaising with Heads of Year when necessary.
A periodic summary document will be presented to Heads of Year, Senior Management Team and Governors.
The Head of Key Stage 3 and 4 will meet with the ESW once a half term to discuss progress and review the Service Level Agreement, which determines the support provided by the ESW.
RE-INTEGRATION
The School has arrangements to reintegrate students who have been absent for extended periods. In such cases each student will be treated individually and arrangements will be made that are most appropriate to the circumstances.
REPORTING TO PARENTS/CARERS
The school has procedures in place to monitor the attendance of students including contact with parents/carers. The annual written subject reports show an attendance record for each student.