Attendance
Children who miss a substantial amount of school fall behind their peers, and struggle to catch up. Most of the work they miss (especially in early years) is never made up, which can lead to big gaps in their learning.
We work with Birmingham City Council to ensure attendance is managed effectively and follow their Fast Track Attendance policies and procedures.
From Autumn 2024, a new national framework for Penalty Notices has been introduced to improve consistency across England. The documents below explain what the national framework is, and how it impacts anybody whose child’s absence from school is not authorised:
- National Framework for Penalty Notices: Covering Letter to Parents – July 2024
- National Framework for Penalty Notices: FAQ for Parents – July 2024
For further guidance see the following Birmingham City Council web page:
Expectations
We expect our pupils to have a good level of attendance, unless there is a valid reason. Each pupil starts the new academic year with 100% attendance. However, when actioning Fast Track procedures, the previous 12 month period is considered.
Illness
We accept that children may become ill at some point throughout the school year, causing them to be absent. In some situations, the illness your child is experiencing could be manageable within school, enabling them to still be able to attend. Illnesses considered as manageable within school are regarded as:
- Headaches
- Stomach Pains
- Period Pains
- Coughs and Colds
- Sore Throats
- Slightly above normal temperature
- Joint Pains
- Asthma (all Clifton Primary School staff are trained yearly in the management of Asthma)
- Vominting (if this is an isolated occurrence)
- Diarrhoea (if this is an isolated occurrence)
For further information and guidance on childhood illness see the following NHS web page:
Providing Evidence
Please be aware if your child’s absence has become a concern, proof of illness may be required. For children whose attendance is being managed via FastTrack, due to health-related absences, only absences with medical evidence can be authorised. Evidence can be brought into the Main Office or emailed to attendance@cliftonprimary.bham.sch.uk
The following is regarded as medical evidence:
- Letters from Health Care Professionals
- Individual Care Plans (this is important for children that have more serious or prolonged conditions that would need to be managed in a specific way)
- Email from GP confirming a consultation has taken place
- Text message with appointment details
- Screenshots with your child’s details confirming a consultation has taken place
- Prescribed medication – this must have your child’s details on it.
Reporting Absences
It is very important you ensure a good level of communication is maintained if your child is absent from school due to Illness. School should be contacted (by email, text or telephone) on each day of absence, before 9.30am to inform us of the absence or to give an update on the situation.
We would recommend absences for any other reasons to be discussed with our school administrator (Mrs Ashworth) or Senior learning mentor (Miss Downer).
Failure to report an absence is likely to result in a visit being carried out to your home. This is in accordance with our safeguarding policies and procedures.
Leave in Term Time
Only in very exceptional circumstances will leave during term time be authorised by the Headteacher. This must be requested by completing a Leave in Term Time Request Form available from the school office.
You will be notified of the decision in writing at our earliest convenience. If you wish to discuss the outcome of the decision further, please book a meeting with the Headteacher.
Please note, leave taken during term time which has not been authorised will be regarded as an unauthorised absence. In most circumstances parents will be prosecuted. This is likely to result in a minimum fine of £60 per child, per parent. In the academic year 2021/22, 38 fines were issued to our families for unauthorised absences taken during term time.
18 families have been fined between 2022 and 2023 along with one court prosecution.
Non-Emergency Appointments
Non-emergency appointments such as dentists, opticians, travel vaccinations, passport renewals and parental related appointments need to be arranged outside of the school day where possible. If you cannot do this, proof of the appointment is required.
If your child needs to be collected during the school day, please be aware of our school and staff availability to ensure you allow enough time for us to collect your child from their classroom.
Lateness
If your child arrives to school once the register is closed this will be coded as an absence. Please ensure your child get to school on time. Out gates are open from 8.30am and to ensure your child’s safety the gates are manned at all times by a member of our Leadership Team.
At Clifton Primary School we start the day by teaching either Maths, English or Phonics (in Early Years). These subjects are highly important so are taught when children are most likely to be in the best frame of mind to be alert.
Being frequently late for school can:
- Disrupt the learning of other children in your child’s class
- Cause your child feelings of embarrassment or anxiety
- Mean your child misses valuable teacher input which is given at the start of the lesson
- Leave them feeling disorientated
Missing a few minutes each day can add up a lot over the period of the year:
- Arriving 5 minutes late everyday adds up to over 3 days lost over a year
- Arriving 15 minutes late is the same as being absent for 2 weeks a year
- Arriving 30 minutes late is the same as being absent for 19 days a year
Support
If for any reason you would like some support with attendance, please speak to your child’s class teacher in the first instance. We have a number of people in school who offer help and we are also here to support our parents to ensure our pupils get the best possible start with their education.
- Good bedtime routines are in place
- Ensure screen focused activities end at least an hour before bedtime
- The recommended amount of sleep a primary school child should get is 9 to 12 hours per night
- Prepare lunches the night before
- Ensure uniforms, book bags, PE kits and anything else your child may need is readily available from the night before
- Be mindful of days when traffic is heavy, or roadworks are taking place in the area and allow extra time for your journey
For further advice and guidance on ways to support your child with their mental wellbeing visit the following website: