At Trevithick we have high expectations and expect all children to have excellent attendance.
We have an attendance officer, Vicki Williams, who monitors the attendance of every child in our school. We love to celebrate when children improve their attendance or manage to attend school every day of each term. To do this we:
- Celebrate the class with the highest percentage attendance every week in assembly.
- Each term the class with the highest percentage attendance wins £100 to spend on classroom resources of their choice.
- At the end of the year those children who have managed to achieve a 100% attendance record attend a celebration event.
We understand that some absences from school are unavoidable are these can be authorised by the Head of School. For example these may include:
- If a child has a medical appointment, other legitimate meeting.
- If a child is expected to undertake days of religious observance.
- If a child has experienced a close family bereavement.
- In order to see a parent who is on leave from the armed forces.
By law, we are unable to authorise any holiday absence in term time because of the amendment to the law as outlined below:
“The amendments make clear that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.”
DfE Amendment to ‘The Education (Pupil Registration)(England) Regulations 2006.
The authorities are particularly interested in unauthorised absence because, from their point of view, this could indicate that either a child is unsupervised or that the parent is withdrawing them illegally from school.
Timekeeping is also important in the education of your child. Lateness is monitored by our Attendance Officer. If your child is late often, then you will be contacted and offered any support that you might need to ensure that your child can arrive at school on time everyday.
If we have concerns about your child’s attendance then in the first instance we will contact you to offer support by phone or letter, however if your child’s attendance does not improve, then you will be requested to attend an attendance meeting or be visited at your home; you also risk getting a penalty notice or being prosecuted.
If you still decide to take your child out of school, without permission, or unauthorised you will be committing an offence under the Education Act 1996. We may refer the matter to Cornwall Council who as the issuing officer will/may decide to take legal action against you. A penalty notice can be issued under Section 444A AND 444B of the Education Act 1996. This carries a fine of £60 if paid within 21 days or £120 if paid after this but within 28 days. Fines are issued per parent/carer, per child. Failure to pay the penalty notice may result in Court action. Persistent absences not authorised by the school may result in a prosecution in the Magistrates Court, leading to fines up to £2,500 and/or custodial sentences.
Illness
If your child is ill and unable to attend school, we request that you notify the school on each day of absence by telephoning the school on 01209 713460.
