Attendance and Absence

Holidays

Government regulations introduced in September 2013 state that pupils should not be taken on holiday during term time. The law states that parents do not have an automatic right to take their child out of school for this.

Any absence may now only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. The decision rests with the Headteacher. Please note that in the interest of fairness, there will be no authorised holidays and to avoid personal bias, government legislation will be adhered to at Staniland Academy.

Should you need to take your child out of school for exceptional circumstances during term time, an appointment will need to be made prior to the absence with the Headteacher and you should contact the school office in the first instance.

Absence could result in a Fixed Penalty Fine being issued under Section 444(B) of the Education Act 1996.

Staniland Academy actively promotes and rewards good attendance so please make sure your child attends regularly and on time. The school gate is open from 8:40 a.m. each morning so children can enter before registration at 8:50 a.m. After this time, please go to the school office. At the end of the day the school gate opens at 3:20 p.m. for dismissal.

Time missed from school may affect academic progress and children may find work more difficult when they return. Younger children may also find it hard to socialise with their classmates.

Phoning the school if your child is absent

Please ring the school absence line on 01205 365527 and choose Option 1 from the menu to leave a message. You must contact the school on every day of absence.
If your child is absent and we have not received a message, you will be contacted by our attendance officer to find out about an absence.
If no contact is made with the school, please be aware that a home visit may be made by our Education Welfare Officer.

Reach More Parents App (formally Weduc) to message if your child is absent or has an appointment

Parents must report an absence using the Reach More Parents app (formally Weduc) before 9am each morning their child is unable to attend school.
To report an absence, open Reach More Parents app (formally Weduc) and select: Parent Portal; Select child; Report an Absence; Select date/time; Provide reason for absence; Send (arrow top right). See link for a step by step guide. https://weduchelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-gb/articles/14181580731921-How-do-I-report-an-absence-for-my-child-
Medical/Dental Appointments – Parents are advised, where possible, to make medical and dental appointments outside of the school day. Where this is not possible, students are expected to attend school before and after their appointment. Parents must show the appointment card/letter to school.

Lateness

Over a year lateness leads to a loss of learning:

5 minutes late each day = 3 days lost,
10 minutes late each day = 6.5 days lost
15 minutes late each day = 10 days lost

Strategies for Improving Attendance

Inform the school immediately on first day of absence
After illness make sure your child makes a prompt return to school
Take holidays only during the school holiday periods
Make medical and dental appointments outside school time when possible
Monitor your child’s attendance closely
Establish good bedtime and morning routines
Prepare for the school day and pack bags the night before
Address any anxieties and concerns early. Contact your class teacher for support.

Medicines

If your child is prescribed medicine by the doctor then the following rules apply:

Medicine prescribed 3 times per day WILL NOT be given by staff. Parents can give the prescribed dosage morning, after school and bed time.

Medicine prescribe 4 times per day WILL be given by a member of the administration staff but parents will need to complete and sign a form giving permission for this to happen.

For safety reasons, no children should be bringing medicines or tablets to school in their lunch boxes. Generally we would expect a child to have no more than 48 hours off school if they are given medication from the doctor unless absolutely necessary. Any child suffering from diarrhoea should also be kept off school for 48 hours.