Attendance And The School Day

At Ferring C of E Primary School, we promote excellent attendance for all pupils in order to ensure that they reach their potential, both academically and socially. 

We encourage all pupils to create these good habits as early as possible so that they are instilled throughout their school lives.

Our school target for attendance is 96%. Attendance is measured on a week-by-week basis. The local authority identifies children whose attendance falls below 90% as Persistent Absentees.  Attendance this low will have a detrimental effect on a child’s academic progress and will prompt the involvement of a Pupil Entitlement Investigation Officer.  If your child’s attendance falls below 90%, you will be asked to meet with the Headteacher to discuss and review your child’s attendance. 

Each year there are only 190 statutory school days in school, 380 registration sessions. This means there are 175 days (weekends and school holidays) for shopping, birthday treats, non-urgent medical and dental appointments, holidays etc. We understand that children do fall ill occasionally and may need to stay at home. If your child is ill, please ring in on each day of absence or use Weduc absence.

The school day runs from 08:40am to 3:15pm. This is the same for all year groups. This means we are in-line with the government recommendation of school hours per week.

 

Absence Reporting

In exceptional circumstances, you may need to apply for a short-term absence from school. PLEASE NOTE: IT IS THE SCHOOL’S POLICY THAT HOLIDAYS MUST NOT BE TAKEN IN TERM TIME.      

    **Absence request procedure**

 

Please submit copies of any supporting documents (e.g. letters from the hospital) which show the exceptional/urgent nature of the leave requested, with the absence request form (completed) which can be obtained from the school office. 

 

Encouraging Excellent Attendance - Fixed Penalty Notices

The vast majority of parents and carers at Ferring C of E Primary School secure 95% or above attendance and punctuality for their child. It is our aim, working with parents to ensure every child has excellent attendance and punctuality in order to secure the best possible chance of success, progress and achievement in school.

Unfortunately, a very small minority fail to ensure regular and punctual good attendance. Regular and punctual attendance at school is a legal requirement and a responsibility of parents and carers: under section 444 of the Education Act 1996, an offence occurs if a parent or carer fails to secure their child’s attendance at the school where they are a registered pupil and the absence is not authorised by the school.

To supplement the existing strategies currently employed by the school and Local Authority and, like a number of other local schools, Governors have agreed that Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) may be used at Ferring Primary School.  A penalty fine of £80 per child, per parent (which would increase to £160 if unpaid) will be issued in accordance with Achieving for Children’s Code of Conduct for FPN’s and our own attendance policy. The Education (Penalty Notices-England) Regulations 2007 prescribe the necessary details for the operation of the Fixed Penalty Notice scheme. Penalty fines are paid to the local authority and are not received by the school.

 Fixed penalty notices may be issued in the following circumstances for unauthorised absences:

  • Absence due to parents who fail to send their child/children to school when they are fit and well
  • Unauthorised term time leave (including family holiday)
  • Unauthorised delayed return from an extended holiday
  • Persistent late arrival at school

We always work with parents where there is an attendance or punctuality worry. However, when this fails to improve attendance and punctuality, we may issue a FPN for the above reasons. If you feel there are any issues, which are preventing your child attending school regularly or punctually, or you would like further support, please contact Mrs Chrissie Busson in the first instance.

 

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY

 

FIXED PENALTY NOTICE INFORMATION LEAFLET