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ACADEMY UPDATE – The school will be open as normal on Monday 13th March.

Attendance

Attendance

Attendance

Research shows that there is a clear correspondence between attendance, academic success and personal development, which is why it is vital that students attend school EVERY day. However, there will be times when absence is unavoidable and acceptable. This page explains the approach we are following to manage attendance.
Types of Absence

Each absence is classed as authorised or unauthorised. Absences are coded as authorised, where reasons are considered valid, and unauthorised where no explanation or unacceptable reasons are given.

 

Unacceptable Reasons

The following reasons are not acceptable:

  • shopping visits
  • care for family members
  • days out to theme parks or to attend concerts/shows
  • parents’ work commitments or business trips
  • holidays taken in term time (including long weekends taken on Fridays and/or Mondays)
  • parental illness
  • Day off for a birthday.
Illness and First Day Call
If your child is unable to attend school due to illness you should inform us by telephone, text or email on the first day of absence, before 9.00am.

Attendance Team Contact Numbers

Landline - 01274 302400 (option 1)

Mobile - 07342 859955

Attendance Team Contact Emails

Emma McCarthy - emma.mccarthy@bfa.bdat-academies.org - Lead Attendance Community Support Officer

Andy Pocock - andy.pocock@bfa.bdat-academies.org - Attendance Community Support Officer

Emma Dresser - emma.dresser@bfa.bdat-academies.org - Attendance Community Support Officer (on MAT Leave)

It is also useful to know the expected day your child is due to return. If you do not supply us with this information we have a duty to contact you as a safeguarding measure.

Where the child is absent through illness, or medical appointments, this will normally be counted as authorised. Where we have concerns over excessive absence patterns through illness we will need to discuss this with you in order to gain a better understanding of the problems, and to offer support.

Medical/Dental Appointments
It is generally better if these can be arranged outside of school hours, but we know that this is not always possible. Where children need to attend such appointments during the school day, it is important that parents come to the Office first before collecting children. Please bring your child to the office on returning from the appointment. Please indicate in advance whether s/he will be returning for lunch. Medical and dental appointments count as authorised absences if we have proof of the appointment.
Emergency Occasions
There are some occasions e.g. bereavements, family problems, etc. where it may be inappropriate for children to attend school; we will be sympathetic to such needs so please get in touch and keep us updated.
Lateness
Please ensure that your child arrives at school so that they are present for registration; this is done at 8.25am each day. Meeting and exchanging news with friends before school is important for the children’s social development but lateness causes problems over lunch numbers, register marking and missed instructions. If you notify us of a genuine reason for lateness, this will be authorised, but where explanations are inadequate, a sanction will be issued.
Leave of Absence

Holidays

It is our policy that any holidays in term time are NOT authorised. The only exception to this is where parents serve in the armed forces (this does not extend to the emergency services i.e. Police, Fire, Ambulance etc). Where authorisation is not granted then subsequent term time holiday absence will be reported as a matter of course to the Local Authority; we are under a duty to do this.

Where unauthorised leave is taken, the Governing Body has decided that it will support the imposition of a fixed penalty fine. This can be very expensive and will apply to any parents who book holidays in term time.

Approved Public Performance

Where children are invited to perform in a licensed show or concert (e.g. orchestra, pantomime) you are asked to consult with the Headteacher about how much time away from school is required. Where possible, such requests will be granted, provided that the child’s education is unlikely to suffer. The school will also be sympathetic towards leave to participate in a recognised city, county or national sporting event.

Where parents wish to take their child(ren) out of school during term time for purposes other than holidays, they should complete the leave of absence form. This is available from the Main Office.

What we are aiming for

Every child should aim for as near to 100% attendance as possible. We expect attendance for the year to be at, or above 97% for every student, other than in exceptional circumstances.

What is considered as poor attendance
Attendance below 96% will impact negatively on your child’s learning and is classed as being below expectation, with attendance of under 93% being poor. Any child falling below 90% attendance will be regarded as a serious concern and is classed as ‘persistent absence’ by the DfE. We monitor attendance very closely and provide regular reports on every child’s attendance.
Our duty of care in responding to unauthorised and persistent absence – possible consequences

We have a duty of care, shared with the Local Authority, to challenge poor attendance. Where attendance levels are low and where there are invalid reasons (judged by the Local Authority, not the parent) for a pupil’s frequent absence or where parents condone absence (e.g. by taking children out of school on unauthorised holidays) then parents render themselves liable to a fine.

The fine may be doubled if the fine is unpaid within 21 days and could ultimately lead to a criminal conviction. Of course, no one wants this to happen but we need to be very clear about the issue.

Absence and GCSE outcomes

The diagram below shows how attendance can have a dramatic impact on GCSE grades:
chart Attendance
We hope that these notes will help you have a clear understanding about the School’s expectations in relation to attendance. We want to work in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that your child attends school regularly and so has the best chance of success in the future.

Information guide for parents on improving school attendance

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Bradford Forster Academy
Fenby Avenue, Bradford BD4 8RG

T: 01274 302 400

E: info@bfa.bdat-academies.org

Website by Clearsilver

Photography by Baz Seal

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