Absence and Attendance
Attendance Expectations- Aim for 100% attendance.
- Attend Yardleys School every day and on time.
- The day starts at 8:40am and students are expected in school at this time. Students who arrive after 8:45am will be recorded as late and sanctions applied in line with school behaviour policy.
- Attend all lessons promptly.
“Pupils need to attend regularly to benefit from their education” (Department for Education; 2019)
Why Attendance at School is so Important
If a child of compulsory school age is registered at a school, it is essential that they attend their school regularly and maintain a pattern of excellent attendance throughout their school career.
Below are just some of the key reasons why it is so important children attend school:
- To achieve and gain qualifications.
- To learn. To have fun.
- To make new friends and to sustain current friendships.
- To experience new ideas and activities.
- To develop new skills. To build confidence and self-esteem.
- To have the best possible start in life.
The Impact of Absence
A student is classed as absent if they arrive to school after the register is closed or they do not attend for any reason. Absence from school disrupts the education of the individual and the whole class. Those children who do not attend regularly:
- Do not achieve well in exams and limit / put at risk post-16 opportunities such as college and sixth form places and apprenticeship opportunities.
- Find it difficult to maintain friendships.
- Are more likely to be involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour
- May lead to a criminal prosecution. Yardleys School uses the Birmingham City Council legal FAT-Track
framework.
Attendance Weeks Absent Lessons Missed 95% 2 Weeks 50 Lessons 90% 4 Weeks 100 Lessons 85% 6 Weeks 150 Lessons Legitimate reasons for absence from school
There may be times when your child is too unwell to come to school, however, such occasions should be very rare. Remember, even if your child is not 100% well, if they are at school, they will still be learning!
It is highly unlikely that your child should be absent from school for any of the following reasons:
- A headache.
- Stomach pains or period pains.
- A cold, runny nose or sore throat.
- Toothache.
- A sports injury that has not required medical attention.
- Going on a school trip or educational visit the previous day.
- Any other ailment that is non-contagious and is not sufficient to prevent your child’s learning.
How Parents Can Help
- Establish a good routine in the mornings and evenings so your child is prepared for the school day ahead.
- Make sure your child goes to school every day.
- Take family holidays outside term time
- Ensure your child arrives at school on time – not late.
- Arrange dental and medical appointments outside school hours when possible.
- Always inform the school if your child is absent due to illness.
- Take truancy seriously – if your child is not attending school as you expect they may be putting themselves at risk – Who are they with? What are they doing?
- Talk to your child about school and take an interest in their school work (including homework).
- Attend parent evenings and school events.
- Praise and reward your child’s effort and achievements at school.
Medical/Dental Appointments
Wherever possible, parents/cares should make every effort to avoid making medical or dental appointments during the school day. It is preferable to try and arrange these during holiday periods or after the end of the school day. If an appointment has to be made at the beginning of the school day, this should not result in a whole day’s absence from school. If an unavoidable appointment requires the student to be collected during the school day, they must be collected by an adult listed on the student’s record.
If you feel that your child may need additional support at school due to a medical issue, you can contact your child’s Head of Year.
Our Absence and Attendance Policy is available on the School Policies page of our website.