We know how important good attendance is on your child attainment, well-being and wider development and I am keen to work together to ensure your child has a happy, successful time with us.
Each week we will be celebrating Attendance in our Friday Celebration Assembly and the class with the highest attendance will receive the Abby’s Attendance Cup for the week. We will also be sharing this information in the weekly newsletters so you can join us in celebrating all those classes with attendance that is greater than 96%.
We understand that unexpected absences and challenges can arise, and we are here to offer support should your child’s attendance begin to decline.
Mrs Devonshire is our Attendance Champion and will be meeting with families as necessary to work together to improve attendance where needed.
If you have any questions or need assistance regarding the new attendance regulations or support with improving attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out to her via the school office.
A copy of our Attendance Policy can be found on the school website.
Thank you for your continued support in raising attendance. Together, we can ensure that all children at St Catherine’s attend and achieve.
In total there are 175 non-school days a year. This gives families the opportunity to:
· Spend time together
· Go on family visits and days out
· Go on holiday
· Go shopping
· Attend routine appointments
Taking a holiday during term time seriously affects your child’s attendance and in turn their attainment. The Headteacher will not authorise holidays.
Important changes to attendance regulations came into effect on 19 August 2024, following the introduction of a new National Framework for Penalty Notices. These changes are part of updated Government guidelines, and they will directly affect when penalty notices are issued in Hertfordshire for unauthorised school absence.
What is a good attendance percentage?
A: Ideally, we would like pupil’s attendance to be as close to 100% as possible but understand that at times, we all get sick. The national average attendance rate for school attendance is 96% so anything above this would be classed as good attendance.
What is poor attendance?
A: Anything below 95% attendance is worrying as your child has less chance of success and reaching their full potential. It makes it harder for your child to progress if they are missing key learning opportunities.
What will happen if my child’s attendance falls below 95%?
A: We monitor pupil’s attendance every week, every term and every year and keep you informed of you child’s attendance. If your child’s attendance becomes a concern, we will send you a letter informing you of their attendance and that we are monitoring it. We will work with you to support you in improving your child’s attendance at school. Unfortunately, if your child’s attendance does not improve you may be invited to an Attendance Meeting at the school and may receive a Penalty Notice due to your child’s persistent absence from school.
Isn’t my child entitled to 10 days holiday or odd days off for trips, celebrations including birthday’s and wellbeing days?
A: No.
Parents have a legal obligation to ensure that their child receives efficient full-time education. We strongly urge parents to avoid taking family holidays during term-time as school can only approve leave in ‘exceptional circumstances’.
Term-time holidays and Weddings/celebrations are NOT classed as exceptional circumstances.
What is meant by genuine medical reasons to be absent?
A. Diarrhoea, sickness, childhood ailments e.g. measles, chicken pox, extremely high temperatures are classified as illnesses. Children should not stay home if they have minor coughs, colds, tummy aches and headaches. If your child is too poorly to remain at the school. We will contact you to come and collect. Please remember that even absence due to genuine medical reasons still affect a child’s attendance.
What should I do if my child is absent?
A: Contact the school on the first day and subsequent days of absence to explain their absence. You can do this by telephoning the school reception on 01992 463 214 Option 1. If your child is absent with no reason provided, school will contact you to carry out a health and well-being check.
What should I do if my child has a medical appointment?
A: When you know in advance that your child will be absent from school for a medical appointment, it would be helpful to let school know before the date of the appointment. You can do this in person, by telephone or via email. However, we do request that routine medical appointments and dental appointments are booked out of school hours. We do understand that specialist appointments are allocated with little option but we would appreciate every effort is made to ensure your child does not miss any of their time at school.
Do you require proof of medical and dental appointments in school time?
A: We will request proof of any appointment such as an appointment card, letter. Please respect that we are required to ask for proof by the Local Authority, as without evidence your child’s absence will not be authorised.
