Attendance

At Crick, we have an individual student target attendance of 97%. We understand that illnesses and other periods of absence will occur. However, we want all students to strive for 97% attendance, or above, to ensure absence from school does not impact upon their learning, progress, and achievement. In line with the schools attendance policy, if a pupil’s attendance drops below 95%, unless there is a valid reason for absence, a letter will be sent home to parents reminding them of the attendance expectations. The pupil’s attendance will then be monitored in line with the schools attendance policy.

Lost learning due to absence

Absence 

If your child is prevented, for any reason, from attending school, then you are requested to notify the school first thing on the morning of absence, by contacting the office by telephone (01788 822633), or personally calling in  at the office. 

A pupil’s absence from school will be considered unauthorised until a satisfactory explanation is received from parents.

Registration

Registers will be taken promptly each day at 8.55am and 1.00pm.

If a pupil arrives after the registration period, they must report to the school office for signing into the lateness register. They will then be registered as ‘late’ for that session.

If a pupil arrives 30 minutes or more after the closure of the register, they must advise the School Office and will be entered into the lateness register. They will be registered as unauthorised absent for the session unless an appropriate explanation is received.

Authorised and unauthorised absence 

Absence from school will be authorised if it is for the following reasons:

• Genuine illness
• Days of religious observance
• Specialist medical or dental appointments
• Examinations off site i.e., music examinations
• Visit to new school
  
  

Holidays 

Holidays taken in term time will not be authorised. If you take your child out of school for an accumulative total of 5 days or more (10 sessions) (90%) over a period of ten weeks, the school will deem this as irregular attendance and will consider a referral to the Local authority for consideration of legal action. This could include:

• A Penalty Notice payable up to £180 fine without further reference to you for a penalty notice this warning is valid for 12 months.
• Prosecution under s444 (1) Education Act 1996, where if convicted you may be fined up to £1,000.
• Prosecution under s444 (1) (a) Education Act 1996 where if convicted you may be fined up to £2,500 and/or 3 months’ imprisonment

The school or local authority can fine parents/carers for the unauthorised absence of their child from school, where the child is of compulsory school age. An initial fixed penalty notice of £180 is issued to each parent/carer for each child. So a two parent/carer family with two children would be fined £360. For more information see 'Penalty notices for non-school attendance'.

 For more information see 'Penalty notices for non-school attendance'.