Attendance
Moments Matter, Attendance Counts
Being in school is important to your child’s academic achievement, wellbeing, and wider development.
There is evidence to suggest that regular school attendance is a key mechanism to support children and young people’s educational, economic, and social outcomes. Regular school attendance can facilitate positive peer relationships, which is a protective factor for mental health and wellbeing.
Attendance at school is crucial to prepare young people for successful transition to adulthood, and to support their longer term economic and social participation in society. There is also evidence that the students with the highest attendance throughout their time in school gain the best GCSE results.
It’s never too late to benefit from good attendance.
From the first day of term to the last, the small moments in a school day make a real difference to your child.
Reporting Absence
- We request that where possible all parents avoid arranging medical and similar appointments during school hours. To report an absence for students please use the following methods before 8.30am on the day of the absence (and each subsequent day of absence), and advise when they are expected to return:
- 01430 430448. This line has a 24 hour voice mail service and parents/carers may leave information about student absence at any time.
- email attendance@howdenschool.net
- Send an ARBOR message.
However, if you have concerns about a particular attendance issue and wish to speak to a member of staff, please ring the main school switchboard where you can speak to our attendance and welfare officer during school hours.
Attendance Policy
Link to: Attendance policy
Absence from school in exceptional circumstances
Link to: The school's exceptional circumstances form
Schools are required to provide education for 190 days a year, and it is expected that children who are registered at a school will attend for this time. Parents do not have an automatic right for their children to have time off school and any requests for absence are entirely at the Headteacher’s discretion. Research shows that children do not achieve as well in their education and in public examinations the more school absence they have, for example a child absent from school for a period of two weeks each year, for exceptional circumstances and with the average absence for illness may miss the equivalent of one whole year’s education over their school life.
The school considers each application for term-time absence individually, considering the specific facts, circumstances, and relevant context behind the request.
Any request should be submitted as soon as it is anticipated and, at least 10 school days before the absence. An ‘Exceptional Absence Request Form’ which can be requested from the attendance team attendance@howdenschool.net and should be returned to the same email address. The headteacher may require evidence to support any request for leave of absence.
Our Expectations
FAQs
Is my child too ill to attend school?
Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Can I book a term time holiday?
Term time holidays will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. Parents/carers should put their request in writing to the school as soon as possible. If a child is taken on a holiday without the authorisation of our Headteacher, the parent/carer may be liable to pay a fine and/or be prosecuted for non-attendance.
What if my child is persistently late?
Punctuality is an important part of good attendance at school. The Attendance and Welfare Officer will produce daily/weekly reports for the Deputy Headteacher that identify lateness for students and those with persistent or patterns of lateness to lessons will be placed onto the Punctuality Programme with time missed being made up at a lunch time or after school (depending on the situation).
