Attendance
Introduction
We aim to give your child the very best education possible. To do this, it is essential that your child attends school everyday. Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their children receive full time education and regular attendance is essential if children are to progress with their learning. The school day is divided into two registration sessions so, for example, one day of absence will be recorded as two sessions.
The Department for Education states that it is the responsibility of parents to:
(a) Ensure that their children arrive at school on time, properly attired and in a condition to learn.
(b) Instil in their children a respect for education - and for those who deliver it.
(c) Impress upon their children the need to observe the school’s code of conduct and reinforce this through discipline in the home.
(d) Inform schools of the reason for a child’s absence as soon as possible and to provide further information as required.
Notification of Absence
We ask parents/carers to inform the school at the earliest opportunity by phone or in person, if your child is unwell and unable to attend school. If we have no reason for the absence by 9.10am the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. A home visit will be made by our Family Link Worker on the 3rd day of absence if there has been no contact. Other planned absences should be notified to the school via an Application for Leave of Absence Form.
Punctuality
8.50am is the strict start of the day for all classes. The doors are open from 8.40am - 8.50am to allow children to prepare for learning. We believe that punctuality is an important social courtesey and regularly arriving late to school not only disrupts your child's opportunities for learning but those of the children in his/her class. Children arriving late must access the school via the school office where they are registered and the reason for his/her late arrival is recorded. Where the child arrives after registration has closed the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. Late arrivals are monitored by the school and interviews will take place with parents where there is concern.
Leave of Absence
Children of school age who are registered at Farcet must, by law, attend school regularly. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amndment) Regulsations 2013 amended the previous Education Regulations (England) 2006 removing the Headteacher's discretion to agree term time holiday. As a result, all holidays taken in term time will be unauthorised unless the absence is for 'exceptional circumstances' which are unavoidable and rare.
Parents are expected to provide explanations for their child/ren's proposed absence. Please complete an Application for Leave of Absence Form to explain why are requesting leave. If authorisation for this leave is not granted but the child is absent, or no authorisation is sought, or the period of leave is at a similar time of year to an unauthorsied absence in a previous year, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. As a result, a referral may be made to the Education Welfare Officer who may issue each parent with a Penalty Notice (fine). For more information on Penalty Notices please see the Cambridgeshire County Council's website.
Further Information
Please click HERE to access the school's Attendance Policy and HERE for an Application for Leave of Absence Form.
Please click the links below for Cambridgeshire County Council's information on: