Attendance

The school attendance target for every pupil is 96% or higher.

Every child is legally obliged to be in full time education. There are occasions when children are genuinely ill, or require a medical appointment. We ask that parents and carers provide an appointment card or doctors note for any planned appointments or illness.

It is a legal requirement that parents inform the school of the reasons for a child's absence. Parents can telephone the office on 01908 670074. If no reason is given for not attending, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

We want our parents and carers to help support our children by making sure their child arrives on time and attends every day.

You can read Milton Keynes Council's Attendance Information here.

Reporting an absence

If your child is unable to attend school, please notify the school as soon as possible: Contact us

Day 1:

Contact the school to report the absence and provide the reason and expected return date.

Day 2 and beyond:

Keep the school informed of your child’s progress and update the expected return date where possible. Absences can be reported by phone or via the school’s dedicated absence email: Contact us

First day calling policy

If we haven’t heard from you by a set time (usually 10:30 am), a member of the school’s administration team will contact you to confirm the reason for absence.

School attendance and the law

Parents and carers are legally responsible for ensuring their child attends school regularly and punctually. Failure to do so could result in legal action by the local authority.

Under the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006, only the school can authorise an absence – not parents or carers.

Time off for holidays during term time is not a legal right. Any request for a leave of absence must be made in advance by completing an absence form and submitting it to the school office. If a holiday is taken without permission, the absence will be recorded as ‘unauthorised’ and could result in legal action.

You can read the government advice here:

https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence

Why is attendance important?

Regular school attendance is essential because:

It is a legal requirement for children aged 5 to 16
It supports academic success and future opportunities
Schools have a safeguarding responsibility for all students
It helps develop social skills and strong relationships
Schools have a safeguarding responsibility for all students
It ensures students gain the qualifications they need for their next steps in education or employment

Attendance expectations

Students are expected to attend school every day
Punctuality is important – students must arrive on time for both morning and afternoon registration
The minimum target for attendance is 98%
Parents should schedule appointments and holidays outside of term time wherever possible

How families can support good attendance

Encourage good sleep and morning routines
Be firm about attending school unless your child is genuinely unwell
Communicate with the school about any barriers to attendance
Seek support early if you have any concerns

Requesting a leave of absence

If you need to request a leave of absence during term time, you must complete a leave of absence form and return it to the school office. Please note that email requests cannot be accepted.

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