"Pupils enjoys trips to places such as to museums and listening to visitors in assemblies. They help to make them learn better about topics covered in lessons. OFSTED"
Parents

Attendance Information

The law on  school attendance

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. Where parents decide to have their child registered at school, they have an additional legal duty to ensure their child attends that school regularly. This means their child must attend every day that the school is open, except in a small number of allowable circumstances such as being too ill to attend or being given permission for an absence in advance from the school.

 

Attendance at Red Lane

All schools have a continuing responsibility to proactively manage and improve attendance across their school community.  We are absolutely committed to this responsibility and through our attendance policy and procedures we will pursue all absences and are committed to ensuring that children receive the education to which they are entitled. High attendance is fundamental to academic and social success of all pupils. Regular school attendance is important so that pupils can:

  • Work co-operatively with others

  • Develop their academic knowledge and skills and build on these each day

  • Gain skills and knowledge and the confidence to apply them to new situations in order that they can take full advantage of the life chances available to them

  • Improve their understanding of the world around them

  • Widen their experiences beyond their immediate area

  • Become confident and successful adults who make a positive contribution to society

 

Systematic procedures are in place in order to:

  • Maximise attendance rates by encouraging, recognising and rewarding good attendance and to ensure that attendance at school is viewed positively.

  • Investigate individual absences and ensure that pupils and parents are clear that unauthorised absences are not acceptable.

  • Work closely with pupils and parents, to help them overcome problems, which may prevent pupils from attending regularly.

  • Provide parents with support and advice in order to maintain and improve attendance.

  • Recognise and celebrate improvements in attendance and punctuality of individuals and families.
Absences

If your child is absent from school please notify the school office by 9am to provide a reason for absence. Where school have not been provided with a reason for absence parents will be contacted by the school.

We know that when a child is unwell this can be worrying for parents. Deciding whether to keep your child home from school or nursery when they're unwell can be a tricky task. Government guidelines provide clear directives for schools and nurseries regarding health protection and the management of infectious diseases. These guidelines outline when it's appropriate to keep children away from educational settings and when it's safe for them to attend.

If you are unsure then please call our school office who will be able to help. Alternatively you can find the NHS guidance here.

The Head of School will only grant a leave of absence to a pupil during term time if the request meets the specific circumstances set out in the 2024 school attendance regulations. These circumstances are:

  • Taking part in a regulated performance, or regulated employment abroad
  • Attending an interview
  • Study leave
  • A temporary, time-limited part-time timetable
  • Exceptional circumstances

Exceptional circumstances are one off events which are unavoidable, examples may include the death of a close relative, attendance at a funeral, respite care of a looked after child, a housing crisis which prevents attendance. Events such as birthdays, shopping trips or days out are not classed as exceptional circumstances and absences for these reasons will be unauthorised.

 

As a leave of absence will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, it is highly unlikely a leave of absence will be granted for the purposes of a family holiday.