Attendance

 

At Alexandra Park, our attendance strategy is rooted in our core value of Care, just as our behavior strategy is. We believe that fostering a supportive and nurturing environment is more effective than relying solely on sanctions. Ensuring children attend school regularly significantly impacts their education and life chances. By working closely with parents, we strive to make school a place where children feel happy, safe, and excited to learn. This commitment to high-quality education and Care, where each child feels valued, is a key factor in our consistently high attendance rates.

We are dedicated to providing additional support to families when needed. If your child is anxious, we will offer extra care. If they are unwell or not feeling their best, let us know, and we will ensure they receive the attention they need. Should there be any challenges in getting your child to school, please contact us, and we will explore ways to help.

Research consistently shows a direct link between school attendance and academic achievement. The more school a child misses, the lower their chances of academic success. After illness, the most significant cause of absence in schools across England is holidays taken during term time. This creates gaps in a child’s learning, hindering both current and future progress. It may also send a message that education is not a top priority. For these reasons, we do not authorise holidays during term time.

There is a government sanction system in place for unauthorised absences, but our priority is always to work with parents to keep children in school. This not only benefits the child but helps families avoid sanctions. Starting in August 2024, fines for unauthorised absences will fall under a national framework. A fine will be considered if a child misses five days of school without authorisation, or 10 days within a 10-week period. The cost of these fines will increase from £60 to £80 (if paid within 21 days), and from £120 to £160 (if paid within 28 days).

Attendance Procedures
If your child is absent due to illness, please notify the school on the first day of absence. We encourage parents to schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. If an appointment during school hours is unavoidable, please inform us in writing. For any other absences, a Leave of Absence Request Form must be completed, which is available for download or can be collected from the school office.

How We Monitor Attendance
Attendance is recorded twice daily. If we are not informed of a child’s absence, a member of staff—Mrs. Lockett (School Admin Officer), Mr. Brooke (Headteacher), or Mrs. Millward (Assistant Headteacher & SENDCo)—will contact the parent or carer on the first day of absence.

We closely monitor all children's attendance. If attendance drops below 90%, the first step is always a conversation with Mr. Brooke to explore ways we can support the family in improving attendance. If attendance does not improve, it will be further discussed with parents/carers in a Team Around the School meeting.