Whipperley Infant Academy 

Start time: 8.30a.m.

Finish time: 3.05p.m.

Please click on the link below to read our Attendance Policy

  Attendance Policy 2024

Attendance and Punctuality

 
At Whipperley Infant Academy we have high expectations for every pupil's attendance at school.  Punctual and regular attendance is an essential requirement for successful learning from the very first day a child starts school.

It is a legal requirement for parents/carers to ensure that their child attends school regularly and punctually.

There is a wealth of research showing that children with excellent attendance make better progress at all stages of their education than those with poor attendance. 90% attendance may sound good, but it is worth remembering that a child with 90% for the whole year will actually have missed nearly 4 weeks of school! 

Holidays during school time

You MUST demonstrate your commitment to your child’s education by not taking holidays during term time. Any child or young person who is absent from school due to a holiday will miss out on important learning and will fall behind with their school work. In each Academic Year there are only a maximum of 190 statutory school days – this allows plenty of time for holidays to be arranged outside term time. Holidays taken during term time will be categorised as an unauthorised absence. Parents who take holidays during term time will be fined.  The cost is £80.00 per parent per child and if this is not paid within 21 days this increases to £160.00.  Please click here for more information regarding penalty notice. If you have already been fined in an academic year the Local Authority cannot fine parents again but will issue court proceedings under Section 444 of the Education act.

What are the rules around taking children out of school during term time? We are not able to authorise term time leave for children unless in exceptional circumstances.  All requests for leave must be made in writing in advance by the parent or    carer to the headteacher using the school’s Leave of Absence form.  Holidays, trips abroad to visit relatives and family events do not qualify as exceptional circumstances. 

Absence due to sickness – other illnesses

If your child is absent due to an illness you must contact the school on 01582 725868 and press option 1 with a reason for this absence.  Parents can also email the school on admin@whipperleyacademy.co.uk  If parents do not contact the school we will contact you by phone and text.  If no contact is made a home visit may be carried out by the Family Worker and Attendance Officer.

What are the expectations in terms of attendance at Whipperley Infant Academy. We expect all children to attend school every day.  Children should only be absent if they are too ill to attend.  Mild symptoms, such as a runny nose or stomach discomfort should not prevent your child from attending school.  A recent letter, published by the DfE and with advice from England’s chief medical officer, stated: “It is usually appropriate for parents and carers to send their children to school with mild respiratory illnesses. This would include general cold symptoms: a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat.” You can read the full letter here: Letter to school leaders on mild illness and school attendance

Dental and medical appointments

We ask that you please make every effort to avoid booking medical and dental appointments during school time. Where this is unavoidable, due to hospital/ medical appointments, parents must show the appointment letter/card to the office. Please also let the office know prior to the appointment to allow time for your child to be collected from their classroom. We would like to make parents aware the registration takes place twice a day, once in the morning and then in the afternoon. Therefore,  every session is counted towards your child’s overall attendance percentage.

Leaving Whipperley Infant Academy / Farley Junior School

We are always sad to say goodbye to our pupils.  If your child is leaving our school because you are relocating or they are changing schools, please inform us. 

We will need your new address and the details of the new school including  address and start date.  This safeguarding procedure means that we know that your child is still in education, safe and well. 

Lateness

If your child is going to be late for school you must go to the main school office and sign them in.  Please remember that if your child is late after a certain period of time this is classed as an unauthorised absence and they will miss their morning attendance mark.

Home time

Please ensure the collection of your child is on time as children could feel upset and feel  very distressed. If for any reason you are not able to collect your child on time please contact the school so we can reassure your child you are on your way.

Cheryl Kelly (Attendance) and Nicola O’Callaghan (Family Worker) are happy to work with children and families to improve attendance and punctuality.  Please come and see us if you have any concerns.

Promoting Attendance and Support

We believe that working together with parents is the best way to result in positive attendance outcomes for children.

To promote good attendance at Whipperley each week we hold an attendance assembly and the class with the best attendance have the year group teddy in their classroom for the week

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   Each term children with 100% will receive a 100% gold badge.  

Each week if your child's class has reached 100%.  The class will receive a special 100% attendance certificate.

On the last day of each month we will look back on attendance and compare from the previous months attendance and see who has improved.  All those children whose attendance has improved in that month will get a special improved attendance sticker.  

At the end of the year the children with 100% attendance will be invited out for a special breakfast at a restaurant.

Dear Parent/Carer,

You may already be aware that the Department for Education are making some important changes to attendance guidance from 19^th August 2024.  The DFE have recently shared with schools and local authorities, details of the changes which are being made to ensure a consistent approach by all schools and local authorities across the country.

These changes include:

Any attendance penalty notices issued after 19^th August 2024 will be issued in line with the new regulations which are as follows:

• Each parent will be issued a separate penalty notice, for each child who is absent. The fine amount will be £160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days, reduced to £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days.
• A second penalty notice issued to the same parent in respect of the same pupil within 3 years, will be charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days with no option of a reduced amount.
• In a case where the national threshold is met for a third time (or subsequent times) within 3 years, alternative action will be taken, which may include prosecution or other legal interventions.

Penalty notices will be issued for term time leave and irregular attendance.  Term time leave does not just include holidays.  Where a child is absent and it is believed it is due to term time leave, schools are expected to carry out a home visit to see the child.

Irregular attendance, where a child has unauthorised absences of 10 sessions (10 sessions are equal to 5 days) or more in any 10 week period, the school must consider escalation to prosecution. The school will always consider the reasons for the absence, what support has already been offered and the engagement of the family and pupil. These 10 sessions could be made up of term time leave, unauthorised late marks or unauthorised absences.

It is extremely important to notify school every day that your child is absent, providing a reason and where appropriate evidence of medical appointments or prescribed medication.

From 19^th August 2024 schools are required to share their attendance data with the Department for Education every day as live data.  This will help the DFE to provide schools with the tools to monitor and see improvement in attendance and allow the local authority to provide advice, support and early help services.

These are nationally imposed changes which the school is required to implement but our priority remains to support our pupils to access school every day.  Please do not hesitate to contact the office or our Family Worker if we can provide any help or support with your child’s attendance.

Regards

Amelia Whitehouse

Head Teacher

Term time leave

If you need to take your child our of school during term time for exceptional circumstances, please complete the form below:-

Term time of leave of absence form