Letter To Parents About Attendance printable pdf download

Letter to Parents about attendance

Dear Parents/Carers

School Attendance

We are writing this special letter to you about attendance to provide you with a clear outline about

absence procedures and the School and Local Authority responses to poor pupil attendance. The

Governors have made it clear that they will support the Headteacher and Education Welfare Service

in promoting high levels of attendance and taking action where there are unsatisfactory reasons for

absence.

Unbroken attendance at school is important for learning. However, there will be times when absence

is unavoidable and acceptable. This letter 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

Unauthorised absences will be referred to the Wakefield Education Welfare Service.

Illness and First Day Call

If your child is unable to attend school through illness you should inform us by telephone on the first

day of absence before 9.00am. Alternatively you can email us at

admin@netherton.wakefield.sch.uk

or call in in person at the Office. It is useful to know the expected day of return. If you do not supply

us with this information we have a duty to contact you for so that we may be sure of the child’s

whereabouts as this is 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 parents in order to gain a better understanding of the problems and to offer

support – for example by involving the School Health Service.

Medical/Dental Appointments

It is generally better if these can be arranged outside school hours, but we know this is not always

possible. Where children need to attend such appointments during the school day it is important that

parents come first to the Office 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 the

midday meal. Medical and dental appointments count as authorised absences.

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.

Letter To Parents About Attendance

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