A school day at Linden Road Academy begins at 8.45 and finishes at 3.15 (32.5 hours per week)

Attendance Matters: Helping your Child Achieve Great Attendance and Punctuality

 

Research shows that children who attend school regularly and arrive punctually are more likely to do well in the future. Regular attendance also helps children to develop their confidence and to make and keep lasting friendships. The table below gives examples of how a child’s attendance affects their education.

 

% Attendance during a school year

Equivalent number of days absent

Equivalent number of weeks absent

Number of lessons missed

90%

19 days

4 weeks

100 lessons

80%

38 days

8 weeks

200 lessons

 

  • Talk to your child about school and what goes on there. Take a positive interest in your child’s work and educational progress.

 

  • Instil the value of education and regular school attendance at home.

 

  • Encourage your child to look to the future and have high aspirations of continued study and a meaningful career.

 

  • Contact the school by 8.50 a.m. if your child is going to be absent. Explain the reason for absence and the expected date of return to school.

 

  • Only make doctors and dentists appointments outside of the school day unless it is a medical emergency.

 

  • Ask school for help if your child or family is experiencing difficulties or there are any changes at home.

 

  • Develop a positive relationship with school, take every opportunity to get involved in your child’s education and acknowledge the importance of children receiving the same messages from both school and home.

 

  • Encourage good routines at home, for example: bedtimes, homework, preparing school bag and uniform the evening before, restricting mobile devices and the television in the morning.

 

  • Provide your child with a healthy breakfast avoid sugary snacks, fizzy drinks, cereal bars, crisps and chocolate. Opt from wholegrain cereals, toast and fruit.

 

  • Your child should come to school if they say they are feeling unwell, have a cold or are a ‘bit off’, they often make a speedy recovery when they are with their friends and if they are unwell we will contact you immediately.

 

  • Do not take your child on holiday during term-time.

 

  • If you have any attendance concerns please contact Mrs. Boyle, Attendance Officer on 0161 320 0002 or admin2@lindenroadacademy.co.uk

 

Holidays in term time

 

Linden Road operates a zero tolerance on holidays or suspected holidays within term time unless under agreed exceptional circumstances. If parents take students on holiday during term time this absence will be unauthorised.

 

Examples of exceptional circumstances:

·       Serious illness of a close family member

·       Funerals of close family member

·       Forces personnel on leave from a foreign posting

·       Representation in national or county sports or performing arts events or similar

·       Other exceptional family circumstances

 

Parents wishing to request Leave of Absence during term time must send a written request to the principal before any arrangements are made, explaining the nature of the request and the exceptional circumstances as to why this leave has to take place during term time. This form can be collected from the school office.

 

Religious Observance

 

Parents are requested to give advance notice to the school if they intend their child to be absent for religious observance that does not fall within school holidays. This is no more than one day for any individual occasion of religious observance/festival and no more than three days in total in any academic year. Any further absence will be categorised as unauthorised.

 

Punctuality

 

Registration begins at 8.50 a.m.,  students are encouraged to be in their classrooms at 8.45 a.m. Students arriving after 9 a.m.  will be marked as present but arriving late. The register will close at 9.25 a.m. Students arriving after this will be classed as late and  it will count as an absence for that school session, an unauthorised absence unless there is an acceptable explanation:

 

Examples of unsatisfactory explanations include:

 

  • A student’s/family member’s birthday
  • Shopping for uniforms
  • Having their hair cut
  • Missing the bus
  • Closure of a sibling’s school for INSET (or other) purposes
  • “We woke up late”
  • Illness where the child is considered well enough to attend school
  • Child wouldn’t behave/wouldn’t get ready
  • Child tired – got back late from holiday, had a sleep over
  • We live far away

 

Legal Framework

Section 444(A) of the Education Act 1996 empowers the local authority to issue Penalty Notices in cases of unauthorised absence from school. This means that when a student has unauthorised absence of 10 sessions (5 days) or more, in any term (where no acceptable reason has been given for the absence) or if their child persistently arrives late for school after the close of registration, their parents or carers may receive a Penalty Notice of £120, which is reduced to £60 if paid within 21 days.

 

Attendance of 90% or below is categorised as Persistent Absence.

 

Thank you for your support making sure that attendance matters.