Attendance
The Importance of Attendance
At West Leigh Infant School we are working in partnership with children and their families to support good attendance.
Please refer to our Attendance and Punctuality Policy below for how we encourage good attendance.
Take a look at the table below for a reminder of the importance of attendance.
Percentage Attendance |
Description of Attendance |
Actual Attendance |
Whole Days Absent per year |
Learning Hours Lost per year |
100% |
Outstanding |
190 days |
0 |
0 |
99% |
Very Good - Best chances of success. |
188 days |
2 |
10 |
98% |
186 days |
4 |
20 |
|
97% |
184 days |
6 |
30 |
|
96% |
Good - although room for improvement! |
182.5 days |
7.5 |
37.5 |
95% |
180.5 days |
9.5 |
47.5 |
|
90% |
Poor - There is less chance of success and it makes it harder for your child to achieve. |
171 days |
19 |
95 |
89% |
169 days |
21 |
105 |
|
88% |
167 days |
25 |
115 |
|
87% |
165 days |
27 |
125 |
|
86% |
Very Poor - Attendance is a serious concern and there will be a huge effect on your child's education and learning. |
161.5 days |
28.5 |
135 |
85% |
161.5 days |
28.5 |
142.5 |
|
80% |
152 days |
38 |
190 |
Holiday/Leave of Absence Request
The Government, School and the Local Authorities Pupil Welfare Service are working together to improve attendance. Parents and Carers must also work together with schools to promote high attendance.
You may be aware that the Department for Education has recently announced national changes to penalty notices issued for unauthorised absence in term time. These changes came into effect on 19th August 2024.
The changes to be aware of are:
· Penalty notices issued for offences that take place after 19 August 2024 will be charged at a new rate of £160 per parent per child. This can be paid at £80 if paid within 21 days.
· Any second penalty notice issued to the same parent for the same child within a rolling 3-year period will be issued at the rate of £160 to be paid within 28 days with no option for a discounted rate.
· The threshold at which a penalty notice must be considered is set at 10 sessions (equivalent to 5 days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-school week period. This may include absences as a result of arriving late after the register closes. The 10 school weeks may span different terms or school years.
· A maximum of 2 penalty notices may be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling 3-year period, so at the 3rd (or subsequent) offence(s) another course of action will need to be considered (such as prosecution).
· Only penalty notices issued for absences taking place after 19 August 2024 will count towards the above thresholds.
Penalty Notices are issued for:
- unauthorised absence
- holidays in term time without permission
- excluded pupils found in a public place during the first 5 days of suspension or exclusion
Please click on the link below for our request for leave form. Please remember this must be submitted at least 4 weeks in advance.
INFORMATION: A new guide for parents on improving school attendance
Members of the Attendance Action Alliance have worked with the Department for Education to develop this short guide, which helps parents understand how they can work with their school and local authority to support their children to attend school and get the right support.