Attendance

Attendance at school is a crucial part of your child’s educational, social and emotional development. We need all parents and carers to support us in maintaining high standards of Attendance across all year groups, so please make sure you inform school of any absences, provide medical evidence for ongoing absences, and show any medical appointment letters to the Attendance Team to have absences authorised. Please ensure that contact is made with school for every day of absence linked to safeguarding and ensuring that school knows where your child is.

We expect you to make sure that your child attends school every day during term time, as long as they are fit and healthy enough to do so. School is open to pupils for 190 days of the year, which leaves 175 non-school days a year (including school holidays and weekends) for families to spend time together and undertake routine appointments.

Our Attendance target for each pupil is at least 95% over the school year
In addition, please inform us via ClassCharts or via the school absence line if your child is going to be absent from school. You can do this by contacting school on 01685 875414, press 0, (then 1 for English or 2 for Welsh), then 1 for Pupil Absence and leave a message with you child’s name and year group, with a summary of the reason for absence. Please support us in maintaining high standards of Attendance at St John’s, and do not hesitate to contact us at the school if you require any additional support, advice or guidance.

The following reasons are not acceptable for taking your child out school

• to look after siblings;
• shopping trips;
• days off for birthdays;
• to visit relatives;
• sleeping in; and/or
• to go on day trips.

There will be days when your child cannot attend school. However, for every day that your child is absent, you must inform the school in line with the our attendance policy. We will only authorise an absence if

• your child is too ill to attend school;
• they have a dental or medical appointment, supported with evidence;
• there is a bereavement of a relative; and/or
• there is a need for religious observance.

Illness - Is your child well enough for school?
Not every illness needs to keep your child from school. If you keep your child away from school, be sure to inform Miss Stephens, Attendance Officer, on the first day of their absence and throughout the period they are away from school. It’s important to inform us if your child is going to be absent. On the first day of your child's illness, telephone the school to tell them that your child will be staying at home. Please expect staff to ask about the nature of the illness and how long you expect the absence to last.  

Fixed-Penalty Notices
We work very closely with the Attendance and Well Being Service to ensure that we reach our target of 95%, and with increased pressure on all schools and the need for strong Attendance figures, we have reintroduced  Fixed Penalty Notice Referrals for persistent lateness, and unexplained and persistent absences from school.

In line with local authority guidance, St John's takes a firmer approach to holidays during term time. In some cases, unauthorised absence may lead to a Fixed Penalty Notice, if the pupil is of compulsory school age. Please click on the link for the latest information on Fixed Penalty Notices for Non Attendance at school.