What is considered good attendance?
Regular and punctual attendance is essential for effective learning, promoting positive relationships and developing good attitudes to education. Good attendance is considered above 96%, or approximately no more than one day of absence each half term.
What is an acceptable absence?
An absence is classified as authorised when a child has been away from school for a legitimate reason. Only the school can make an absence authorised. An absence is classified as unauthorised when the school believes a child is away from school without good reason. For example, if a parent takes a child out of school to go shopping during school hour.
Regular and punctual attendance is essential for effective learning, promoting positive relationships and developing good attitudes to education. Good attendance is considered above 96%, or approximately no more than one day of absence each half term.
What is an acceptable absence?
An absence is classified as authorised when a child has been away from school for a legitimate reason. Only the school can make an absence authorised. An absence is classified as unauthorised when the school believes a child is away from school without good reason. For example, if a parent takes a child out of school to go shopping during school hour.
St Joseph's sets a whole school target of 95.5% attendance, which is considered good attendance. The Governing Body reviews with termly.
St Joseph's Attendance Information is available below.
First day absence procedure:
All parents must notify the school of a child's absence before 9am by either calling 01202 741932 leaving your child's name, their class and the reason for their absent. Alternatively you can email the school at [email protected]
The school office will contact parents if a child is absent and the school has not been notified.
Requests for Leave of Absence in Term Time
Following amendments to the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 which came into effect 1st September 2013, Head Teachers are only allowed to grant leave of absence from school in exceptional circumstances. The decision as to whether any request is considered as ‘exceptional circumstances’ rests solely with the Head Teacher.
The fundamental principles for defining ‘exceptional’ are rare, significant, unavoidable and short; 'unavoidable' should be taken to mean an event that could not reasonably be scheduled at another time.
Any request should be made a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the leave of absence and should be submitted to the school using the 'Request for Leave of Absence' form, Parents/Carers may be asked to provide additional information/evidence or meet with the school to discuss the circumstances.
Parents/Carers will be notified of the Head Teacher’s decision at the earliest opportunity. If the circumstances are not considered to be exceptional then parents/carers will be informed of this and made aware that the Local Authority may be asked to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice if a child fails to attend school.
All parents must notify the school of a child's absence before 9am by either calling 01202 741932 leaving your child's name, their class and the reason for their absent. Alternatively you can email the school at [email protected]
The school office will contact parents if a child is absent and the school has not been notified.
Requests for Leave of Absence in Term Time
Following amendments to the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 which came into effect 1st September 2013, Head Teachers are only allowed to grant leave of absence from school in exceptional circumstances. The decision as to whether any request is considered as ‘exceptional circumstances’ rests solely with the Head Teacher.
The fundamental principles for defining ‘exceptional’ are rare, significant, unavoidable and short; 'unavoidable' should be taken to mean an event that could not reasonably be scheduled at another time.
Any request should be made a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the leave of absence and should be submitted to the school using the 'Request for Leave of Absence' form, Parents/Carers may be asked to provide additional information/evidence or meet with the school to discuss the circumstances.
Parents/Carers will be notified of the Head Teacher’s decision at the earliest opportunity. If the circumstances are not considered to be exceptional then parents/carers will be informed of this and made aware that the Local Authority may be asked to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice if a child fails to attend school.
Penalty Notices
A Penalty Notice involves a fine of £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days. this will increase to £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days. If this is a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160. Fines per parent are capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other action like a parenting order or prosecution will be considered.
A Penalty Notice involves a fine of £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days. this will increase to £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days. If this is a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160. Fines per parent are capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other action like a parenting order or prosecution will be considered.
If the Penalty Notice is not paid BCP Council will consider prosecution proceedings under s.444(1) or 444(1A) Education Act 1996. If convicted, sanctions can include a fine of up to £2,500 and a prison sentence of up to 3 months, and you will have a criminal record.
Request for Leave of Absence form (available below or from the school office)
Request for Leave of Absence form (available below or from the school office)