At Springwell, we regard regular attendance as essential to ensuring the best possible outcomes for all of our pupils. There is a clear link between good attendance and good progress. For our pupils to be safe and gain the greatest benefit from their education it is vital that they attend regularly and are on time, every day. To support pupils we work hard to ensure pupils feel that they presence is valued and that they are missed when they are absent or late.
Poor attendance can seriously affect each pupil’s:
- Attainment in school
- Relationships with staff and their ability to form meaningful relationships
- Confidence to attempt new work and work alongside others
Further information about our attendance commitments, expectations and processes can be found in our Attendance Policy which can be found in the policies section of this website.
If your child is ill:
Please contact the school by 08:45 on the first day of the child’s absence giving the child’s name, class and reason, along with the anticipated duration of absence.
Appointments for medical or dental treatment
Where ever possible we ask that these be made outside normal school hours. If this is impossible the school should be notified well in advance by telephone or written note.
Our response to absence
When a student does not attend and we receive no notification, we will respond in the following manner:
On the first day of absence, if we have not heard from the parent / carer by 09.30 the school will ring the child’s parent / carer. We may follow this with a home-visit if we are not able to make contact with you by telephone.
If by the end of the second day, there has still been no contact made we will ask our Parent Support Advisor to carry out a home visit to discuss your child’s absence.
In cases of persistent absence without good reason, we will consult with the Local Education Welfare / Attendance Service. Failure to comply with the expectations set out by the Education Welfare Service may result in further action, up to and including court action.
Punctuality:
If your child is transported to school by Leeds City Council Transport please make sure that they are ready to be collected by the taxi at the arranged time. If they are not ready, the taxi may leave after a reasonable period of waiting. If this happens, it is the parent / carer’s responsibility to get their child into school. Additional taxis will not be sent by Leeds City Transport.
Students must arrive by 08.45 each morning.
If students arrive at school after the close of the register, a late mark will be recorded.
If a child arrives after 09.30, it will be recorded as a late absence. Where a child is persistently late we consider this cause for concern and will ask to meet with parents to discuss a suitable way forward.
Holidays During Term Time:
Amendments to the Education Regulations (2013) make it clear that schools can not authorise any requests for children to be taken out of school for a holiday during term time. Any unnecessary absence should be avoided as it is bound to affect a child’s educational progress and attainment.
A leave of absence can only be granted in exceptional circumstances applied for prior to the absence. The following conditions apply:
- Parents / Carers are restricted in terms of leave from their employer.
- The nature of the trip.
In regard to the above, should the absence be due to employer restrictions then a signed letter from the employer should accompany the request for leave, setting out the prevailing circumstances.
Parent / carers who wish to take their child out of school during term time, must apply in advance and should do so by completing the relevant form, which is available from the Administration Office.
Any absence in term time that is not authorised may result in further action, up to and including court action.