Attendance & Punctuality Information updated Jan 23

Medical Appointments If it is possible, any appointments should be made out of school time. If this is not possible, your child should miss the minimum amount of school time necessary. If your child is well enough to go back to school following the appointment they should do so. If you are asked for medical evidence (eg for exams) you will need to provide copies of GP appointment cards or letters, medical details or other information.

Sources of Information Working Together to Improve Attendance 2022 DfE Guidance The DfE published new School Attendance Guidance to be applied from September 2022 onwards.

The recommended approach is set out in paragraph 8, with a focus on schools & parents building relationships to facilitate access to support.

School Attendance and UK Law childlawadvice.org.uk https://notfineinschool.co.uk/ Support for parents who may be facing school refusal or attendance barriers Also try: Young Minds www.youngminds.org.uk

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Start the day with enough time for your child to be ‘school ready’. Have breakfast, make sure they are up, and check they have everything.

Be prepared the night before. Make time to pack school bags, have uniforms at the ready, set the alarm clock and of course get to bed early!

Support your child’s learning by helping with homework, reading together, encouraging thoughts and questions about the world.

Take an interest in your child’s school day. Ask about their favourite part of the day, their friends and encourage them to share something.

Build a good relationship with us as a school. Attend school events and parents’ evenings. Get to know your child’s tutor and RSL (year leader).

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Key points to remember: Students should be in school by 8.25am and in their form rooms by 8.35am. The gate is shut at 8.35am. If your child is not in form by this time they receive an absence mark and complete a break time punctuality detention.

If your child is absent you must contact school (0191 218 9500) on each morning of absence, explaining the reason for absence.

Medical appointments if possible should be made out of school time.

Holidays and leave of absence in term time are only authorised in exceptional circumstances. Please make requests in writing eg via email.

Please ensure we have an up to date contact address/email/number on our system.

When children attend school consistently they are more likely to do well in their work but also build strong relationships and feel connected with the school community. By law, parents are responsible for ensuring all children of compulsory school age attend school or are educated at home.

Good attendance contributes to: ● Personal and social development ● Continuity of learning making learning retention and progress easier ● Fulfilment of course requirements ● Good references for further education/employment ● A reputation for reliability What constitutes good attendance?

An attendance percentage needs to be 95%+ before it can be considered good. If your child’s attendance falls below 90% they will be classed as persistently absent, which is treated seriously and can lead to fixed penalty notices (fines) unless there is a valid reason such as serious illness.

90% is the equivalent to missing one day per fortnight which equates to missing half a year’s education during the course of Years 7-11.

2 weeks of holiday can bring attendance down to 94%.

Each year, a number of our students in every year group achieve 100% attendance records, showing that this is an achievable target. Students with excellent conduct and attendance records were rewarded just before Christmas.

What do we do at LHS to encourage good attendance? ● Inter tutor group and house competitions and rewards ● Individual rewards for students with good and excellent attendance records ● School, year group and tutor groups targets are set for attendance ● Regular attendance information sent to parents/carers ● Regular promotion of good attendance in assemblies

● Detailed analysis of attendance figures and trends for individuals, year groups, sub groups and the whole school ● Regular reports to governors and a governor link who monitors attendance; an attendance action plan ● Registration system which allows every lesson to be monitored closely ● Text/email contact with parents/carers when students are absent or late ● Dedicated Attendance Administrator ● Support for students and parents/carers where attendance difficulties are emerging. We are appointing additional pastoral managers in the summer term to improve capacity and support.