Attendance and Punctuality
Article 28 Every child has the right to an education - UNICEF Rights of the Child
At St Ambrose, our aim is that all children will have an attendance of 96% and above. It is a parent's legal responsibility to ensure that their child is in school on time every day.
If your child's attendance falls below 95%, you will start receiving text messages and letters from the school. If the low attendance continues and falls below 90%, you will be invited to come into school to discuss the reasons for the low attendance, and we will work together to establish a way forward. St Ambrose works with Global Policing to support our families with attendance below 90%. Global Policing work along side school to find unique solutions to support the child and family to ensue the child gets the best possible education.
Regular school attendance is essential for children to maximise their educational opportunities and become emotionally resilient, confident, and competent adults.
St Ambrose R.C. Primary School creates an environment where its children enjoy coming to school because they enjoy learning and feel like valued members of the school community who are safe, secure and at ease.
At St Ambrose, we recognise that attendance is everyone's business; it is a strand that runs through all aspects of school improvement, supported by our policies on admissions, safeguarding, anti-bullying, child protection, safeguarding and behaviour and inclusive learning.
To maintain the high levels of attendance, we would like to highlight the following points:
• You will be giving your child the best possible chance to reach their potential if they attend school regularly and on time.
• Taking your child out of school for a holiday should be avoided. Parents/carers do not have an automatic right to do this. The Headteacher is not permitted to grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Holiday leave would not be considered an exceptional circumstance.
• If exceptional circumstances arise, a request must be sought in writing before the absence.
• In those cases where permission is not granted, your child will be considered absent without authorisation. This will result in action being taken against a parent/carer. Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, an authorised officer of the City Council will issue each parent/carer with a Penalty Notice for each of their children who do not attend school regularly. Failure to pay a Penalty Notice may result in direct court case. If a child’s attendance does not improve, or a child is taken out of school again for a holiday following a penalty notice, then the authorised officer of the City Council will action a direct court case.
• The school monitors attendance carefully and uses the data in a number of ways, including picking up any problems a child might be experiencing at school or at home. Teachers will talk to children and parents/carers if they suspect a problem to try to resolve the issue and improve attendance.
• Parents/carers are encouraged to alert class teachers if their child appears reluctant to attend school.
• It is a parent’s responsibility to ensure their child is in school every day and to report to school each day if they are unfit to attend school. If a child is not in school and we do not hear from a parent, and there is no response when school contacts the parent by phone or by home visit, then relevant services will be contacted. It is the school's responsibility to safeguard every child.
To view what the law says on pupil attendance in school, please click the link below.
Is my child too ill for school?
The links below have further information regarding attendance and punctuality for Parents and Carers at St Ambrose.
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