Tuesday 8 th September

Why the school policy has changed How we record attendance and punctuality Warning Letters and Penalty Notices How these are triggered Unauthorised holidays

Hampshire wanted consistency across its schools Government believes that children are entitled to access to education and school To tackle regular small absences and lateness Move from 85% to 90% as the minimum level of acceptable attendance Link between attendance and performance Reduce levels of disruption to the child and the learning of others Historic perception of a 10 day ‘entitlement’ to holidays in term time Pupils with poor attendance often become vulnerable Policy went through a trial and consultation period

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: The myth that pulling a child out of school for a holiday is harmless to their education has been busted by this research. Today heads across the country have been vindicated - missing school can have a lasting effect on a pupil’s life chances. This is why we are doing all we can to encourage more pupils back into class by toughening up on term- time holidays and attendance. Heads and teachers are now firmly back in charge of their classrooms thanks to our plan for education and new flexibility over term dates allow them to set term breaks outside of peak times.

New DfE release ‘Achievement & Attendance’

New DfE release ‘Achievement & Attendance’ KS2

L – late before register closes at 9.20 U – late after register closes, 9.21 and beyond M – medical (doctors/dentist) I – illness (phone call/letter/ ) P – approved sporting activities C – other approved absences (visiting new school/funeral) O – other unapproved absences or no reason given G – unauthorised holiday H – authorised holiday R - religious

A warning letter should always precede a penalty notice There is a warning on all absence request forms that counts as the warning letter Publication of formal testing dates counts as the warning letter PN can be issued by school, LA or police Only x2 PN in a 12 month period – no improvement will require additional LA involvement, such as court order PN - £60 per child per parent if paid in 21days PN – rises to £120 per child per parent up to 28 days School can recommend where only one parent is given the PN No right of appeal – only if error is proven

Persistently arrived late for code U (after 9.20) for 10 sessions out of 100 Persistently late before the close of the register (code L) but the school has met with the parents and clearly communicated that any further lateness will be unauthorised (code O) Where a pupil has been absent for 10 or more unauthorised sessions out of 100 sessions (10 weeks) Missed any public examinations/formal tests where the dates have been published by the school in advance

These are classified as being against the law by the government Only to be unauthorised in ‘exceptional circumstances’ The HT makes the decision if the circumstances are exceptional or not

Request for Leave of Absence: The fundamental principles for defining ‘exceptional’ are rare, significant, or unavoidable which means the event could not reasonably be scheduled at another time. There are no rules on this as circumstances vary from school to school and family to family. There is, however, no legal entitlement for time off in school time to go on holiday and in the majority of cases holiday will not be authorised. Parents/Carers wishing to apply for leave of absence need to fill in an application form … in advance and before making any travel arrangements.

Academies can set their own attendance policies We have been given the option to change term times Blocking INSET days Summer picnic