Attendance

At Fitzwilliam Primary School we work closely with parents and carers to achieve and maintain high standards of attendance. For a child to reach their full educational potential, coming to school every day is essential. We are committed to providing an education of the highest quality for all our children in an environment where all pupils feel welcome and valued. Every child has a right to access the education to which he/she is entitled.

It is our duty to consistently strive to achieve a goal of 100% attendance for all children. We use every opportunity to convey to pupils and their parents and carers the importance of regular and punctual attendance. For our children to take full advantage of the educational opportunities offered, it is vital a child is at school, on time, every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable. High attainment, confidence with peers and staff and future aspirations depend on good attendance.

As set down by the Department for Education, schools are only able to authorise absence from school in exceptional circumstances. When requesting an authorised absence from school you will need to explain why the circumstances are exceptional. Please note there is no general right to authorise absence for a family holiday and if you take your child out of school without permission the absence will be unauthorised and a Penalty Notice may be considered.

If your child’s attendance is under 95%, they are missing at least two weeks of learning time a year. If their attendance is at 90%, they are missing four weeks. This will significantly affect their work and impact on their attainment and the progress they make.

Celebrating Good Attendance

School celebrates good attendance in a number of ways which include:

Attendance Celebrations

Golden Tickets – every child who achieves 100% attendance in a term receives a Golden Ticket. These Golden Tickets go into an end of year draw to find our Golden Ticket worker.

Attendance Champions – We celebrate attendance weekly during our Monday assembly when we plot each class’ attendance on our class grid to find our weekly champions and also our half-termly champions. The class with the best attendance at the end of each half-term get a special reward!

Attendance Letters – At the end of each term every child gets a colour coded letter which tells you all about their attendance.

Attendance Letters – At the end of each term every child gets a colour coded letter which tells you all about their attendance.

Green Letter –  Fantastic attendance which is above the national expectation of 96%. Keep up the good work!

Orange Letter – Attendance is above 90% but below the expected attendance of 96%. Please work with school to improve your child’s attendance.

Red Letter – Attendance is a great concern to school and we are working hard with the Education Welfare Officer to help support you to make sure your child comes to school every day!

White Letter – Attendance that has been greatly impacted on by non-preventable medical needs.

Roles/Responsibilities

The responsibilities in relation to attendance are as follows:-

School

• Set high expectations for pupil attendance, and monitor individual and whole school attendance on a daily and weekly basis,
• Identify causes of concern with regard to pupil attendance.
• Conduct first day response where there is unexplained absence.
• Invite parents/carers into school to discuss pupil attendance which is a cause of concern.
• Work with parents of individual pupils to try to improve attendance and punctuality.
• Work in partnership with Wakefield Authority and the Education Welfare Service and the Inspire Partnership MAT.
• Maintain electronic registration data systems effectively and deploy them robustly to facilitate presentation reports.
• To provide attendance data for parents.
• Promote attendance at all levels.
• Celebrate excellent and improved attendance.

*Please note school does not authorise holidays during term time. 

Parents

• To ensure pupils arrive at school on time everyday and that routines are in place at home to support this.
• To contact school by 9.30am on each day of absence if the absence is unavoidable.
• To obtain evidence where possible to support medical absence.
• To avoid term time holidays, and attempt to minimise school time appointments.

Pupils

• To arrive at school, on time everyday with correct equipment and ready to learn.
• Comply with school regulations regarding attendance and punctuality.
• Discuss any concerns they may have with staff regarding attendance and punctuality.

Education Welfare Service

• The Education Welfare Service will work in partnership to promote and facilitate improved attendance, at an individual level, by supporting the Fast Track to Attendance Programme; and at a whole school level using proactive strategies and action plans.
• The Education Welfare Service will work with children and families to ensure their school attendance and safeguarding is maintained.
• The Education Welfare Service will provide guidance with regards to Children Missing Education.
• The Education Welfare Service will work in partnership with other agencies and will offer advice and signposting for referrals to appropriate organisations.
• The Education Welfare Service will undertake legal action on behalf of the school.
• Wakefield Local Authority will support the school with networking and training events and with individual School Audits and Action Plans.