Attendance
At Framwellgate School Durham we believe in the importance of attendance for all our students. Strong attendance allows them to achieve and prepares them for future life. All evidence shows that there is a clear link between attendance at school and a student’s progress and achievement. We also hugely value the wider range of life skills and experiences students gain from their time in school.
Responsibilities
It is a parent or carers responsibility to ensure their child attends school both regularly and on time.
Our responsibility in school is to monitor attendance, reporting absence to the Local Authority, supporting parent and carers with their responsiblities and to coach and encourage students in the value of strong attendance being ready for school.
Absence
Students may unfortunately have to miss school for a number of reasons, and it is important that this is both monitored correctly and procedures are followed.
Advice
We know that sometimes our students cannot come to school because they are really unwell - and that's the right thing to do for them and other students. Medical advice is clear however that children with mild illness will often be well enough to attend - for example if they have a cough, or cold, without a temperature. The NHS guidance Is my child too ill for school? - NHS is designed to support parents in their decision making about mild illness. Remember that after any period a child can return to school as soon as they feel well enough.
Absence procedure
If a child is sick or unable to attend parent/carers must contact the school before 8.30am. This should happen on each day of an absence.
The school will contact parent/carers if a child is absent and a reason has not been given.
The only legally acceptable reason for not being in school are illnesses and medical appointments. Other absences will require authorisation by the school (see leave of absence)
Leave of absence - the school will not authorise any leave of absence due to family holidays, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Leave of Absence During Term Time - click here or from the reception of school.
Support provided by school
We will seek to recognise and celebrate student attendance in school on a regular basis. We will also look to intervene, coach and encourage students to attend if their level of attendance drops.
Support milestones
If a student has more that 5 days of illness (a weeks absence in the year) we will seek to contact the student’s parent/carer to check that their child is coping with the impact of this absence and if the school needs to be aware of any emerging concerns.
If a student has more than 9 days of illness (nearly two weeks absence in the year) we will wish to have a meeting with the student’s parent/carer to discuss the nature of the illness and any obstacles that are being faced. This would lead to agreed actions to be taken by parents and the school to try and maintain attendance moving forward.
If a student were to have over 18 days of absence (nearly four weeks off in the year) this would lead them to be a persistent absentee from school for that academic year. The school would expect to work closely with parent/carers to support them in their responsibility for their child’s attendance.
Punctuality
Students are expected to be on site by 8.25am each day so they can attend morning tutor registration at 8.30am. This is a valuable start to the day where key messages are given and students welfare is checked by their tutor.
If a student does arrive late for school then must sign in at reception before going to their timetabled lesson. If a student is regularly late to school, we will inform parent/carers. We will also discuss this with the student to help them understand the importance of being on time and consequences if they continue.
Further information
For enquiries about attendance parent/carers should contact the attendance team at attendance@framdurham.com