One of the most important ways a parent can support the education of their child and their child’s social, emotional and academic development, is to ensure they attend every day and on time. Going to school regularly, and being part of the school community, gives children a sense of belonging and means that they benefit not only from lessons and learning, but in seeing friends and teachers, going on school trips and establishing regular routines; routines are so important for wellbeing. Being around teachers and friends in a school environment is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential. That’s why school attendance is so important and why the Government and Stanley Crook Primary School are committed to tackling the issues that might cause some children to miss school unnecessarily. The law also 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 ensure their child receives that education either by attendance at a school or by education otherwise than at a school.
Parents have a legal duty to ensure their child attends 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. This is essential for pupils to get the most out of their school experience, including their attainment, wellbeing, and wider life chances.
Every day in school really does matter. Each day missed from school is equivalent to approximately five lessons missed. Over time, this can really add up:
Changes to School Attendance You may be aware that the Department for Education (DfE) has published a revised version of ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’ which became statutory on the 19th August 2024. Working Together to Improve School Attendance states that school attendance is everyone’s business. This means it is the responsibility of everyone involved – parents, carers, schools, and the local authority – to ensure children access the education they’re entitled to. Included in the changes, is a new National Framework for Penalty Notices with the aim to improve consistency in the use of penalty notices across England. Under the new national framework, all schools will be required to consider referring parents/carers for a Penalty Notice for an unauthorised term time leave of absence, or when there has been irregular attendance over a 10-week period. This is when a child has missed 10 or more school sessions (5 days) with unauthorised absence (This applies even if your child has not been on holiday). Please note fines are issued directly by Durham County Council and are not made payable to the school.
Only 2 Penalty Notices can be issued to the same parent for the same child within a 3-year rolling period and any second notice within that period is charged at a higher rate of £160 per child. It is also important to note that a third Penalty Notice cannot be issued to the same parent for the same child within 3 years of the date of issue of the first. If there is a third occurrence of poor attendance or term time holiday that meets the legal threshold, alternative action will be taken. This is likely to involve legal prosecution or a parenting order.
Term Time Holidays
Children should not be taken out of school during term time unless it is unavoidable. Schools are required to consider requests for leave of absence in term time and should only approve the leave if there are exceptional circumstances. Generally, the DfE does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance.
If a request for leave is denied and the pupil is absent for 5 days or more then the school is expected to refer the case to Durham County Council. The LA will issue a penalty notice with no requirement for a formal warning to be issued. Penalty notices can also be issued where a pupil is absent for repeated incidents of unauthorised leave in term time that fall below the 5-day threshold.
Illness and First Day call
If your child is unable to attend school through illness or another reason please inform us on the first day of absence before 8.45am providing details of the reason for your child’s absence and expected day of return to school. This can be done by contacting the school office by telephone on 01388 762858. Alternatively, an in-app message can be sent via Arbor.
PUNCTUALITY MATTERS TOO!
Good punctuality to both lessons and to school leads to higher levels of achievement. When students arrive late at school, they miss out on essential teaching and learning at the beginning of the school day. This can reduce achievement, regardless of a student’s academic ability. Your child may also feel awkward arriving to the classroom where everyone else is settled and students arriving late can disrupt the entire class. Being 10 minutes late every day equates to over 30 hours (approximately 6 days) of learning lost each year. Please ensure that your child arrives at school by 8:45am, ready for registration. Children can enter school from 8.30am via the school yard. The side gate will close promptly at 8:45am and pupils arriving after this will need to sign in via reception.
Further information can be found in the school Attendance Policy
