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Attendance

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SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY

Constant monitoring of children's attendance

Mrs Hawley (Attendance Officer) and Mrs Knapp (Principal) closely monitor children’s attendance at The Sir Donald Bailey Academy.

Your child’s time at school is very valuable – they only get the chance once! It’s therefore very important that they miss as little school as possible. We do realise that absences due to illness or medical matters can be unavoidable and school is not the place for a child to be if they are unwell.

If your child is not going to be coming into school, we ask you to phone the school as soon as possible or email attendance@sirdonaldbailey.co.uk on the first day of absence or text the school on 07786201170 to let us know they won’t be in. If you are experiencing any difficulties which are affecting your ability to bring your child to school, come and see us. We are here to help!

The Sir Donald Bailey Academy has an Attendance Target this year of 95%. 

Attendance Policy
Nottinghamshire Code of Conduct 2016
Exclusion Escalation Policy

ATTENDANCE REWARD SYSTEM

Promoting attendance and punctuality

We want to reward children who have good attendance and we have a number of incentives throughout the year groups.

Weekly
  • Any class that has 100% attendance are rewarded with some cookies and can choose a non-uniform day.
  • The best F2-Y2 and Y3-Y6 class for attendance that week receive a cup to keep for the week. They also get to score a goal for their Year Group, on the Football Display in Trinity Hall. The display is called ‘Give attendance your best shot!’
Termly
  • Names of 100% attenders are put in a Prize Box. There are two prizes worth £20 awarded in each Key Stage, for the name pulled out the box
  • The best class from each Key Stage are awarded medals to keep and some class sweet treats
  • 100% Attendance Certificates are awarded at an Assembly

From September 2013 the Principal no longer has the authority to authorise absences for the purpose of taking a family holiday except in exceptional circumstances. We therefore ask parents and carers to avoid booking holidays during term time. The school will be closed for an extra ‘Inset’ week each year. This will give parents/carers the opportunity to take a holiday during term time when there would be potential cost savings. As a result of this there will be a zero tolerance approach towards parents taking their children out of school at any other time. If however you believe there are exceptional reasons why your child needs to be absent from school you need to complete a Leave of Absence Application Form, which is available from our Attendance Officer.

A child who is absent from school for 2 weeks (10 days) will have less than 95% attendance for that year before taking into account any further days lost due to illness.

Where a child’s level or pattern of absences becomes a concern we will discuss this with the parent or carer and may involve the Education and Attendance Team.

Roles & Responsibilities

The Sir Donald Bailey Academy
  • To ensure parents/carers understand the importance of punctuality and attendance.
  • To monitor attendance and punctuality weekly.
  • To contact parents/carers if no reason has been received for a child’s absence.
  • To inform parents/carers if a child’s attendance falls below 90% or if poor punctuality is having a significant effect upon a child’s education.
  • To write and meet parents if attendance is poor or punctuality does not improve after initial letter.
  • To offer advice and support families.
  • To contact Family Services/Local Authority if unauthorised absences persist.
  • To provide a range of incentives to encourage excellent attendance. Currently they include, certificates, class medals, a Family Prize Draw and competitions

Roles & Responsibilities

Parents & Carers
  • To ensure your child attends every day unless they are unwell.
  • To inform the academy by telephone on the FIRST day of absence because of illness, and everyday that follows.
  • Try and arrange Medical appointments outside of the academy day.
  • Where medical appointments cannot be taken out of academy hours medical evidence is taken to the school office to authorise the absence.
  • To bring and collect your children promptly. If your child is late they must be signed into the academy at the main office.
  • Holidays are avoided during term time.
  • A letter to the Principal is sent at least one month in advance if you believe it is unavoidable to take your child on holiday during term time.
  • Ensure that the academy is informed if someone different will be collecting your child.

Important Statistics

  • 95% attendance means that your child has missed two weeks of school.
  • 90% attendance means that your child has missed four weeks of school/half a day every week.
  • 80% attendance means that your child has missed eight weeks of school.
  • Attendance of below 90% over five years is equivalent to your child missing half a year of school.
  • Attendance below 80% over five years means that your child misses a whole year of school.
  • Research suggests that 17 missed school days a year equals a drop in GCSE grade (Department for children, schools and families).
  • Only a quarter of pupils will achieve GCSE grades A to C if their attendance is below 90%.
  • Pupils who are frequently absent from school are more likely to become involved or be a victim of crime and anti-social behaviour.
  • Poor attendance suggests to future employers that the individual is unreliable. Get into good habits early.
  • Missing 10% (about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
  • One of the most effective ways for providing pathways out of poverty is by doing what it takes to get children into school every day.
Schools of The Forge Trust
Contact Us
  • 01636 680142
  • office@sirdonaldbailey.co.uk
  • The Sir Donald Bailey Academy, Bailey Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 4EP
COPYRIGHT 2022 The Sir Donald Bailey Academy, COMPANY NUMBER: 09443602, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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