INMANS PRIMARY SCHOOL
Inmans Road Tel: 01482 899485
Hedon Fax: 01482 898897
East Yorkshire inmans.primary@eastriding.gov.uk
HU12 8NL www.inmansprimaryschool.co.uk
Chair of Governors: Mrs J Baker Senior Admin Officer: Mrs Jane Dukes
Headteacher: Mrs Sally Morgan
5th January 2010
Dear Parents,
We have recently had a meeting with a member of the Local Authority to update our
attendance policy. I thought that it would be helpful if I reminded all parents of the required
level of attendance.
Level of Attendance Response required
The government has said that all schools should have an
95% average attendance of above 95%. Therefore we must
monitor carefully pupils whose attendance drops below this
level.
If your child’s attendance falls below this level we will write
to you to inform you.
If a child’s attendance drops below 90% then the school will
90% need to ask our local Education Welfare Officer to work
with the school and family to see what we can do to support
the pupil and their parents, to help them to improve future
attendance or to ensure that work is being done at home to
prevent the pupil falling behind.
If your child’s attendance drops below this level we will
write to inform you and ask you to take steps to improve
your child’s attendance. Where appropriate the EWO will
be invited to support your family to see what can be done to
improve future attendance.
The Government defines this as persistent absence. If a
80% child’s attendance drops below this level then we must
create an Action Plan which details how all involved will
work together to improve the child’s attendance.
If your child’s attendance drops below this level then you
will be informed in writing and you will be invited to work
with the school and the EWO to produce the Action Plan.
I am sure that all parents will want to work with the school to ensure that their child(ren) make
the best progress possible. Regular attendance at school is an important part in this process.
Government comparisons of data from groups of pupils of similar ability who differ in their level
of attendance have shown that even dropping to just below 95% has a serious impact on the
progress of the individuals. You might be surprised to know that a three day absence by the
middle of the Autumn term will result in an attendance level below 95%!
A copy of this letter can be found on our website www.inmansprimaryschool.co.uk
A particular problem for schools is the number of parents who choose to take their holidays
during term time. I would urge all parents to consider the disruption to their children’s
education very carefully when booking holidays. It is mistakenly believed that children may
have ten days holiday during term time. This only applies in exceptional circumstances.
To bring the school in line with Local Authority policy:
• From September 2010 we will not be authorising holidays, except in exceptional
circumstances (which will need to be explained on the holiday request forms). Where
a pupil already has a low percentage attendance or where holidays are taken in the
run up to, or during, the SATs test week then the holiday will not be authorised except
in the most extreme circumstances. Please note: if holidays are taken without
headteacher authorisation then this will result in a fixed penalty fine from the
Local Authority. Exceptional circumstances will mean that those parents who request
holidays during term time every year will find themselves being turned down, unless
they can provide evidence that the circumstances truly are exceptional. E.g. parental
annual leave from work which is non-negotiable.
• Starting after half-term we will be asking all parents to provide doctors notes for
absences over three days.
• Starting with immediate effect we have also been asked to code any unexplained
absences as unauthorised. This means that if parents do not let us know on the
morning of the first day by 9.30 am why their child is absent then the absence will be
recorded as unauthorised.
• Starting with immediate effect 10 unauthorised marks (1 = half-day) in any 13 week
period will result in the Local Authority issuing a fixed penalty notice of £50
Our Senior Education Welfare Officer will be closely monitoring the work of the school to
ensure that we follow the guidelines set. It would be useful if you could keep this letter to hand
for future reference so that our policy is clear to you.
Please rest assured that we want to support our parents and we pledge to work with you to
help the pupils overcome any difficulties which may be keeping them from 100% attendance
at school. We also understand that children do get ill and that there will be times when they
are unable to attend school. We are, however, required to do our best to meet our attendance
target, which has been set with the best interests of the children in mind. We hope that you will
consider seriously the issues for your child/ children and our school and help us to succeed in
improving both attendance and your children’s chances of doing well at school.
Yours sincerely,
S E Morgan
Headteacher
I / We have received the attendance letter dated 5th January 2010
Pupils name ……………………………………………… Class ……………………………………..
Parents’ signature …………………………………….. Date ……………………………..
A copy of this letter can be found on our website www.inmansprimaryschool.co.uk