Attendence

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL DURING TERM TIME AND PERSISTENT LATENESS

At Mayfield, we believe that, for students to be as effective and successful as they can be, they need to be in school every day and on time. Absence from school is always disruptive to students’ learning and good attendance is firmly linked to academic success. Therefore we fully endorse the Local Authority’s new Attendance Policy which states that Under Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1966, persistent lateness does not constitute as full school attendance and, if a child of compulsory school age who is registered at a school fails to attend regularly, then the parent/carer is guilty of an offence under the above Act.

Mayfield has agreed to adopt this zero tolerance approach which means that parents will not be permitted to take their child out of school during term time. If they do, they face a fine and risk losing their child’s school place.

Leave for holidays during term time will not be authorised.
Special consideration will be given to authorise a maximum of 3 days absence from school for exceptional circumstances, such as:
Religious observance;
Funeral of parent, grandparent and sibling;
Out of school programmes such as music, arts or sport, agreed by the Local Authority;
Time off relating to Child Entertainment Performances, which is subject to a licence being issued by the Education Welfare Service.
Specific circumstances not regarded as exceptional circumstances are:
Serious illness of a close relative;
Pilgrimages;
Weddings of parents and siblings.

A Fixed Penalty Notice will be issued by the Education Welfare Service for unauthorised leave of absence taken without permission after the first day of absence. This will incur a fine of £100, reducing to £50 if paid within 28 days. Students will also be in danger of losing their place in the school.

Mayfield is committed to this policy of minimum unavoidable absence from school during term time which I am sure you will appreciate is intended for the benefit of our children.

This new Attendance Policy also tackles persistent lateness and we have introduced a new Attendance Strategy. This means that, if a student arrives after the close of registration at 8.30 a.m., he or she will be marked as late. If a student continues to be persistently late for school (i.e. seven late marks in any half-term period), the Headteacher may ask the Education Welfare Service to implement a penalty notice of £100, reducing to £50 if paid within 28 days. If lateness persists after the implementation of a penalty notice, legal proceedings can be initiated under the Education Act (1966). The Education Welfare Service will also challenge irregular attendance and patterns of parentally condoned absences.

Please ensure that your child attends school regularly and allows plenty of time to arrive at school by 8.30 a.m.

Thank you for your support.