Camden Junior
School
ATTENDANCE
The London Borough of Sutton
has established that there shall be 195 school days, 5 of which may be used for
staff training and on which children should not be on the premises.
Attendance Policy
We
believe that good attendance is essential if children are to take full advantage
of school and gain the educational and social skills, which will equip them for
life.
Camden
aims to achieve good attendance by operating an attendance policy within which
staff, pupils, parents and Education Welfare officers (EWOs) can work in
partnership. We will monitor attendance and work quickly to solve any identified
problems.
The
staff will encourage good attendance and will liaise with families and other
agencies when this is appropriate. Good attendance is seen as an achievement in
its own right.
It
is important to remember that only the school can approve absence – within the
constraints of the law – not the parents.
The
attendance policy is based on the premise of equal opportunities for all.
Guidelines
THE FAMILY IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR:
·
Making sure your children attend
regularly.
·
Ensuring that your child arrives
in time for registration at 8.55am.
·
Preferably, contacting the office
by 9.30am if your child is unable to attend school. Alternatively, providing a
note on the morning your child returns giving reason for absence.
·
Arranging family holidays
outside of term times.
THE SCHOOL WILL:
·
Promote good attendance as the
norm.
·
Help every child to reach their
maximum potential unhindered by
unnecessary breaks in school life.
·
Demonstrate that the school values
good
attendance.
Establish a pattern of
monitoring attendance and dealing with difficulties
THE OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR:
·
Recording attendance codes
correctly for both am and pm sessions.
·
Recording information from
letters/telephone calls from parents.
·
Liaising with EWO.
·
Producing Monthly official
register.
·
Producing lateness/absence letters
when necessary.
·
Producing reports as required.
·
Recording information from Application
for Absence forms and notifying parents whether leave will be authorised or
unauthorised.
CATEGORISING
ABSENCE
·
Leave of absence for
medical/dental appointments confirmed in writing will be authorised.
·
Religious observance will be
authorised.
·
Other cultural reasons for absence
will be considered sympathetically.
·
Sitting external examinations e.g.
music exams will be authorised.
·
Absence off-site for special
tuition may be authorised.
·
Fixed period or permanent
exclusions will be authorised.
THE
EDUCATIONAL WELFARE OFFICER (EWO) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:
·
Checking the official register,
looking for patterns of absence and lateness, together with any concerns raised
by members of staff.
·
Writing letters or making home
visits where necessary and report to the school on findings and any further
actions to be taken.
THE
GOVERNOR WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR ABSENCE WILL:
·
Monitor attendance by liaising
with the Headteacher.
·
Report back to the Governing Body
where necessary
