Improving attendance is everyone’s business!

Why is attendance so important? 

Regular attendance in primary school is essential. It helps children build a strong foundation in essential skills. Primary school attendance promotes social development, making friends, working with others and feeling confident in their classroom environment. Consistent attendance helps create good habits like responsibility and time management. By attending school regularly, children have equal opportunities to learn and grow alongside their peers, setting them up for future academic success and better job prospects in the future. 

The Law 

The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude, and any special educational need they may have. It is the legal responsibility of every parent to make sure their child receives that education either by attendance at a school or by education otherwise than at a school.

From September 2024, the government has made significant changes regarding attendance. Some of the main changes are: 

• Schools are required to consider fines if a student misses ten half-day sessions due to unauthorised absence within ten school weeks. 

• Unauthorised absence now includes non-attendance as well as late arrival after registers have closed at 9.30am.

• The fine for absences has been increased from £60 to £80 per parent per child. This will rise to £160 if the fine remains unpaid after 21 days (previously £120). Northumberland County Council is responsible for imposing the fines.

• Headteachers are no longer permitted to approve term-time holidays except in genuinely exceptional circumstances.

As a parent/carer, you can ensure good attendance by:

• Setting an alarm and leaving the house in good time for the start of the day.

• Accessing school breakfast clubs to support punctuality and busy morning routines. 

• Arranging medical appointments for outside of school time.

• Sending your child to school if they are a bit under the weather but are well enough to be in school.

• Sending medical evidence into school, if your child’s attendance is regularly affected by illness or if they are absent for more than 3 days in a row. Examples of supporting evidence include: copies of appointments (emails/text/paper), proof of medication (photo of medicine bottle/box. 

• Arranging holidays during the allocated school holiday periods. Any leave of absence must be informed in advance (14 days prior to leave) and using the correct paperwork.

• Be consistently open and honest with school if you are struggling with your child’s attendance.

• Work collaboratively with school to implement support to improve attendance.

• Encouraging your child to form positive views about their education. They learn from you! A child who feels positive about school is more likely to want to attend every day.

Registration times 

Bothal Upper – 8.40am to 9am

Bothal Lower – 8.50am to 9am

Any child who arrives between 9am and 9.30am will be marked as late. Any child who arrives after 9.30am will be marked as an unauthorised absence (but will be recorded as present in school).

Support for families

At the Ashington Learning Partnership, we understand that some pupils find it harder than others to attend school and therefore, at all stages of improving attendance, we work in partnership with pupils and parents collaboratively to remove any barriers to attendance by building strong and trusting relationships and working together to put the right support in place. 

ALP attendance team: 

Mrs H Robinson - Attendance Manager

Miss N Newman - Family Support

Mr K Lavery - Attendance Officer

Mrs C Harle - Assistant Head of School (Attendance and Inclusion)

 

Local Authority EWO: 

Bothal Primary School - C Barnfarther

 

To contact Mrs Robinson, our Attendance Officer, please call Upper Site on 01670 812360 or email

 ha-leigh.robinson@alptrust.co.uk

 

For further information on local authority and national guidance for attendance, please see the links below. 

Northumberland Education - Important information from Education Welfare – Sept 2024 

Northumberland County Council 'Improving Attendance Strategy' 

Northumberland County Council - Education Welfare Information 

Department for Education - Working together to improve school attendance 2024