At Newtown Primary School we take school attendance very seriously and are committed to attempting to engage every child with the school environment and education.  We consider ourselves to be a very supportive and approachable school and will try to make considerations for pupils who need extra support.  We are, however, bound by law to ensure that every pupil attends school.

COVID19 - Returning to school in September 2020

To ensure a safe return to school after lockdown we have made some new arrangements for drop off and collection.  Please see the letter below from Mrs Herbert outlining the changes to the school processes and procedures.  Please help us to keep everyone safe at school by following these arrangements.

ATTENDANCE

Your child’s attendance at school is extremely important. The Local Authority Education Welfare Officer regularly monitors children’s attendance. If your child’s attendance falls below 95% we will make contact with you to discuss how we can work together to ensure your child comes to school regularly.

 

Absence during term time can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances, such as:

· Genuine illness

· Unavoidable medical/dental appointments (parents are requested to arrange these out of school time if possible)

· Bereavement (close family members)

· Days of religious observance

· Seeing a parent who is on leave from the armed forces

· External examinations (e.g. music exams)

 

Absence request forms must be completed and returned to the school office , for approval by the headteacher, before any planned absence from school.

 

SICKNESS

If children are absent from school, parents /carers must call the school office on  01392 255540 before 9am on the first day of absence and each day until the child returns to school. Please leave a message on the answer phone if you call out of school hours.  Our school administrators closely monitor all absence daily. If no communication is received from parents we will phone and/or text parents to check why the pupil is not in school.  If your child has been sick or had an upset stomach they must remain off school for 48 hours after the last incident. This helps us to stop the sickness spreading to other pupils.

 

LATENESS

Registration starts at 8.55am and ends at 9.10am.  Arriving after 9.10am will result in a late attendance mark (L).  Arriving after 9.25am will result in an unauthorised attendance mark (U).

 

 HOLIDAYS

Holidays during term time will not be authorised.

 

PENALTY NOTICES

It is Devon County Council policy to issue penalty notices (fines) for unauthorised holidays within term time and unauthorised absence from school when the circumstances are avoidable (e.g. child too tired after a late night, a birthday treat, visiting friends/relatives).

Penalty notices require that parents of a child of compulsory school age, whose attendance has been unsatisfactory, to pay a fine. This fine is currently £60.00 per child per adult (if paid within 28 days) or £120 per child per adult (if paid within 42 days). Failure to pay could result in court action.

Therefore, an unauthorised holiday for a family with 3 children and 2 parents could receive a penalty notice for £360 (if paid within 28 days) or £720 (if paid within 42 days).