Attendance Letter - 14 Nov 2025

Ref: PCD/NM

14 November 2025

Dear Parent/Carer,

As we are now half way through term one of the new academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to share our academy’s expectations around attendance and highlight the current Department for Education (DfE) guidance.

Regular attendance is vital for students to fully benefit from their education. Missing school, even occasionally, can lead to gaps in learning and can have a long-term impact on a child’s progress and confidence. Evidence shows that pupils with good attendance tend to perform better academically, both in primary and secondary school.

The government expects all schools to promote good attendance and take steps to reduce persistent absence. A student is considered to be persistently absent if their attendance falls below 90%. If you have concerns about your child attending school, please reach out to us so we can offer advice and support. By working together, we can ensure the best possible outcomes for your child.

To give you an idea of the impact of absence, the table below shows how even a small drop in attendance affects the number of missed school days:

Attendance Days Missed per Year

95% 10 days (2 weeks)

90% 19 days (nearly 4 weeks)

85% 29 days (nearly 6 weeks)

Our goal is for every child to aim for 100% attendance wherever possible. Of course, we understand that some absences are unavoidable due to illness or other serious circumstances. However, where absences can be prevented, we ask for your support in ensuring your child attends school consistently and on time.

In line with the updated DfE National Framework, schools are now required to consider penalty notices for unauthorised absence. A penalty notice may be issued when a pupil has 10 sessions (equivalent to 5 full days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-week period. These absences do not have to be consecutive and can include things like term-time holidays taken without permission or repeated lateness after the register has closed.

Please note that:

• A school day consists of two sessions – morning and afternoon.
• The 10-week monitoring window can span across terms and academic years.
• A child could still have an overall high attendance percentage, but if they accumulate 10 unauthorised sessions within a 10-week window, this will still meet the threshold for a penalty notice.

Penalty Notice Information

• First penalty notice in 3 years: £80 (if paid within 21 days) or £160 (if paid within 28 days)
• Second notice in 3 years: £160 per parent
• Third notice: May lead to prosecution or further legal action
• No more than two penalty notices will be issued to the same parent in any three-year period

In more serious cases, parents could be referred to court and face a fine of up to £2,500 and/or a custodial sentence.

If your child is unwell or unable to attend school, please inform the academy by 8:00am on the first day of absence via telephone or email. If we don’t hear from you, we will contact you to confirm the reason for absence. For safeguarding reasons, we require contact for every day a pupil is absent unless otherwise agreed.

You can find our full Attendance Policy on the school website, which outlines all procedures and the available support for families.

Legal Obligations

Please be reminded of your legal obligations:

• Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 requires parents to ensure their child receives full-time education.
• Section 444 makes it a criminal offence if a parent fails to ensure regular attendance at school without a valid reason.
• Local Authorities may issue Penalty Notices under Section 444B where these duties are not being met.

Punctuality Matters

Arriving on time is just as important as attending regularly. Late arrivals can disrupt your child’s learning and that of others. Being punctual also helps to build essential life skills and sets a strong routine for success in later life. Persistent lateness will be followed up and addressed accordingly.

Medical Appointments

We appreciate that medical appointments are sometimes necessary during school hours. Where possible, please try to book these outside of the school day. If an appointment must take place during school time, we encourage you to minimise the amount of time your child is absent from school.

Leave During Term Time

In accordance with both our Attendance Policy and national guidelines, term-time leave can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. Requests must be submitted in writing to the Principal at least one month in advance using the appropriate form, available on the academy website. It is important to note that holidays for leisure or convenience do not meet the criteria for exceptional circumstances.

If a term-time absence is taken without authorisation, it will be recorded as unauthorised and may result in a penalty notice if the threshold is met.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain high standards of attendance and punctuality. Together, we can ensure that your child receives the best possible educational experience.

If you have any questions or require further support, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Yours sincerely

P. Dickinson
Executive Principal