Attendance

Absence

We know that learning is at the heart of any route to success.  We believe that all our children at Cherry Fields Primary School have the potential to, and deserve to achieve anything they set their minds to.  In order to do that it is so important that your child is in school as much as possible so that the teachers can do what they do best, educate and help children learn to reach to their full potential. It is a requirement that all children attend school for 95% or more of the available sessions in an academic year.There are 175 non-school days each year for family time, holidays and appointments.  When attendance drops below 95%, children are spending more time out of school than in school during any one year.

Should attendance drop below 95%, you will be informed by the teacher and may be contacted directly by the headteacher.  Should absence figures become a continual problem, you may be reported to the County Council Attendance Officer and you may be subject to a fine.  There will be annual attendance awards for any child who maintains attendance above 96% for the year. The class with the highest attendance weekly will be celebrated in our celebration assembly.

Absence and Penalty Notices

If a family feels leave in term time is unavoidable, a form for Leave of Absence in Exceptional Circumstances must be completed at least two weeks prior to the leave date. This can be obtained from the School Office.

All schools are required by law to report to the LEA continual child absence or irregular attendance. The Education Welfare Service is the attendance support of the LEA. Education Welfare Officers are consulted when schools experience difficulties in determining if an absence is justifiable.  An Education Supervision Order is used when a child is registered at the school but is not attending regularly.  Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) may be issued where, in consultation with the EWO, attendance is poor. A parent or carer may also be prosecuted for failure to ensure regular attendance at school.

Our attendance policy can be found on our key policies and information page.