Attendance

Sam & Sammie say ...... "It's COOL to be in SCHOOL!"

 

                              

ELP Attendance Policy V3

Here at Sheep Dip Lane Academy we always aim for 100% attendance.  However, if your child is absent from school for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible either by telephone call or a text - did you know you can reply to the text message you receive if your child is absent? - Why not save our number into your contacts.

This Academic Year, our Academy, along with all Hatfield Pyramid schools, has a named Educational Welfafe Officer, they will work alongside our Attendance and Inclusion Team to support and improve attendance.
 

Every week we have a competition to find out which class has the overall best attendance. The class with the highest percentage for attendance is celebrated in our weekly Principal's Achievement and Attendance Assembly and a Special Tweet! - Dont forget to follow school on Twitter.

Punctuality

Our Leadership Teams will be on the school gates to welcome your child to school at 08:30, your child can then continue to the classroom, this encourages child independence.
It is important that children arrive in school on time so they are in the classroom for registration by 08:40 and are ready to work on daily spelling and reading activities.

If the school gate is locked please take your child to reception.  Children arriving through the main office may have missed class registration and could receive a late mark.

Absence from School and Holidays during term time

Every school day counts! Days off school add up to lost learning.

In total there are 175 non-school days a year. This gives families the opportunity to:

  • Spend time together 
  • Go on family visits 
  • Go on holiday 
  • Go on days out 
  • Attend routine appointments

Parents and Carers have a duty to ensure their child's regular attendance at school, if your child does not attend then you will receive letters, may be invited for an Attendance Support Plan (ASP) meeting with our Inclusion Manager and should attendance not approve then you are at  risk of being issued with an Educational Penalty Notice (EPN) - this could result in you receiving a fine or facing prosecution, see the information from the Local Authority below. 

Holidays

The law states that parents do not have the right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time. However, if you decide to take your child on holiday during term-time without the school's permission this will be recorded as unauthorised absence and may result in you, as parents/carers being issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Why shouldn’t I take my child on holiday during term time? 

Many parents and carers think it is alright to go on holiday during term time, this has a negative affect on their children’s learning and ability to achieve. If your child goes on holiday during term time, they are marked in the register as absent.

  • 10 days absence = 95% attendance for the school year 
  • 19 days absence = 90% attendance for the school year
  • 29 days absence = 85% attendance for the school year
  • 38 days absence = 80% attendance for the school year
  • 47 days absence = 75% attendance for the school year

The Government has implemented new legislation effective from 1st September 2013 which means that no requests for holidays can be authorised except in exceptional circumstances.

When a parent/carer wishes to apply to take their child out of school during term time they must complete a leave of absence form and this should be submitted to the school at least 4 weeks before the proposed start of the holiday and before booking the holiday.  If you are planning a holiday, please speak to admin to arrange a meeting with our attendance team to fill a holiday form in.

If you take your child on holiday during term time, without the authorisation of the Principal, the Principal will make a request to the Local Authority to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice.  If a Fixed Penalty Notice is issued, the penalty is £60 per child, per parent/carer when the payment is made within 21 days, after 28 days it will increase to £120.  Failure to pay within 28 days will result in a summons to appear before the Magistrates Court on the grounds that the parent/carer has failed to secure their child’s regular attendance at school.  Please note that a separate Fixed Penalty Notice will be issued to each parent/carer for each child and all monies are payable to the Local Authority.