Statement of intent

The Diamond Learning Partnership Trust (DLPT) and Glebelands Primary Academy believe that in order to facilitate teaching and learning, good attendance is essential. Pupils cannot achieve their full potential if they do not regularly attend school.

We are committed to:

• Ensuring parents follow the framework set in section 7 of the Education Act 1996, which states that the parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause them to receive efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude, and to any SEND they may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
• Promoting and modelling good attendance behaviour.

• Ensuring equality and fairness of treatment for all.
• Implementing our policies in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
• Early intervention and working with other agencies to ensure the health and safety of our pupils.
• Rewarding regular attendance.

The average attendance for a school age child is above 95%. At Glebelands we target attendance above 96%. 

Absences

Children may only be absent from school for medical reasons or other very exceptional circumstances. 

We ask parents/carers to contact the school as soon as possible to let us know about any absence.  In the event that we are not notified, the school will contact you. 

Leave of Absence

We would discourage parents from taking any leave of absence during term time.  If this is unavoidable, we would ask you to complete a  'Leave of Absence Request Form' to let us know of your intention.  

The school requires parents to observe the school holidays as prescribed; therefore, the headteacher will be unable to authorise holidays during term-time in the vast majority of cases. The headteacher will be only allowed to grant a leave of absence in exceptional circumstances.

Applications must be made in advance and the headteacher will be satisfied by the evidence which is presented, before authorising term-time leave. The headteacher will determine the amount of time a pupil can be away from school during term-time.

Any leave of absence is at the discretion of the headteacher. Any requests for leave during term-time will be considered on an individual basis and the pupil’s previous attendance record will be taken into account.

Requests for leave will not be granted in the following circumstances:

• Immediately before and during assessment periods
• When a pupil’s attendance record shows any unauthorised absence
• Where a pupil’s authorised absence record is already above 10 percent for any reason

If parents take their child out of school during term-time without authorisation from the headteacher, they may be subject to sanctions such as penalty fines.

Persistent Absentees

• If a pupil’s attendance falls below 96 percent, a letter is sent home raising concerns that their attendance has fallen below the school’s expected standard. The letter also has an attached leaflet outlining how parents can work with the school and their child to improve attendance.

• If a pupil’s attendance falls below 90 percent, a letter is sent home explaining that the pupil’s attendance is now being monitored, and the attendance officer contacts the parents to discuss this. 

• The pupil’s attendance is monitored for two weeks and, if attendance does not improve after this time, parents are required to attend a meeting in school to set targets for their child. If parents are unwilling to cooperate, or are genuinely unable to attend, a referral may be required to the local education welfare officer (EWO), who will then conduct a home visit.

Lateness

The school will regard punctuality as of the utmost importance and lateness will not be tolerated.  Pupils should be in their classroom on time.

• Registration takes place between 8.50am to 9.10am.
• Pupils who arrive after the registration period and up to 9.20am will be marked as late. 
• Any pupil who arrives after 9.20am will be marked as an unauthorised late – U.

Children who are persistently late to school will miss a significant amount of their education.

Should lateness continue, Parent/Carers will be invited to a meeting at school to discuss their child’s lateness.