Attendance Information

Receiving a good full-time education will give your child the best possible start in life. Attending school regularly and punctually is essential if children are to make the most of the opportunities available to them.

Government research suggests that 17 missed school days a year = 1 GCSE grade DROP in achievement.

What you can do to help

• Make sure your child arrives at school on time. This encourages habits of good timekeeping and reduces any possible classroom disruption. If your child arrives after the register has closed without a good reason, this will be recorded as an ‘unauthorised’ absence for that session.
• If your child has to miss school it is vital that you let the school know the reason for his/her absence on the first morning of the absence by 9am and then on any subsequent days away from school. 

You can do this by contacting the Wey Valley Academy attendance and absence line on

01305 817059 or by emailing  attendance@weyvalley-academy.co.uk

• If you know or believe that your child is having difficulties attending school, please contact your child’s head of year. It is better to do this sooner rather than later, as most problems can be dealt with very quickly.

Click this link to view the Parent Attendance Flow Chart

Authorised and Unauthorised Absence

If your child is absent and school either does not receive an explanation from you, or considers the explanation unsatisfactory, it will record your child’s absence as ‘unauthorised’, that is, as truancy.

Most absences for acceptable reasons will be authorised by Wey Valley Academy

• Sickness
• Unavoidable medical or dental appointments

(If possible, arrange these for after school or during school holidays)

• Days of religious observance
• Exceptional family circumstances, such as bereavement
• An interview with a prospective employer or college

Your child’s school will not authorise absence for the following reasons:

• Shopping during school hours
• Holidays which have not been agreed
• Birthdays
• Looking after brothers, sisters or ill relatives

Request For Absence Form

Attendance Policy

The Law

Parents/Carers have a legal duty to ensure that their child receives an education suitable to his/her age, ability and aptitude and any special needs.

Most parents fulfil this obligation by registering their child in a school.

If your child’s attendance is unsatisfactory and not improving despite support from the school, a referral will be made to the local authority Attendance Officer.

The Attendance Officer may write to you or ask to meet with you and your child at home or at school to discuss these difficulties. The Attendance Officer will then agree with you a plan of action to improve your child’s attendance. This may involve further support in school or from other agencies such as Health and Social Care.

Please click on the below link to read further guidance from Dorset Council. In cases where students are persistently absent, Penalty Notices and Penalty Fines can be issued.

Attendance Penalty Notice Information Dorset Council

Leave of Absence

Due to the disruptive effect on a child’s education, no holidays will be authorised.

Parents do not have any right or entitlement to take their child out of school for a term-time holiday.

Any unauthorised leave of absence could result in a Penalty Notice fine being issued.

Any leave of absence will be considered by school in Exceptional Circumstances and will look at each request individually.

• It is extremely unlikely that leave will be authorised if:
• A child’s attendance is already poor
• It is near or during exam or test times,
• It coincides with the start of the school year
• The school believes that it may have a harmful effect on the child’s education

ATTENDANCE NOTICE!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT……

Attendance Statistics over One School Year

98% = 4 days absent from school

95% = 10 days absent from school

90% = 4 weeks absent from school

85% = 6  weeks absent from school

80% = 8 weeks absent from school

Attendance Statistics over 5 Years (Years 7-11)

85-90% = About half a year off school

80% = 38 weeks off school

(This equates to one whole school year missed!!!)

Wey Valley Academy Attendance Procedure

90% attendance letter 1 will be sent to highlight attendance levels

If there has been no improvement in 6 weeks, letter 2 will be sent asking for a meeting and to complete a parenting contract if necessary

If no improvement a penalty warning may be sent

If no improvement then a penalty notice could be issued

Attendance Policy