attendance and punctuality

At Yate Academy we firmly believe that good attendance and punctuality is crucial to student success.

We expect that all students will:

Be in school every day and arrive on time.
Attend school punctually and be welcomed through the front door by 8.35am.
Attend school appropriately prepared for the day

We expect that all parents/carers who have day to day responsibility for the children and young people will:

Encourage regular school attendance and be aware of their legal responsibilities;
Ensure that the child/children in their care arrive at school punctually, prepared for the school day.

Reporting absence due to illness

Please contact the school before 8.30am on the morning of each day of the student's absence by calling our Attendance Officer on 01454 333583 or you can email absence@yateacademy.co.uk / emorris@yateacademy.co.uk You should explain the full reason for the absence, giving the student's full name.

Any unexplained absence is treated as unauthorised absence. We would ask that parents contact the school promptly whenever any problem occurs that may keep the child away from school.

School attendance that drops below 95% is considered a cause for concern (95% equates to 10 missed days across a whole school year). If this does not improve, there is a graduated response which could result in legal action.

To help, please try to make medical appointments (where possible) outside the school day, take holidays out of school term time, and communicate any reasons for absence clearly with school staff.

We may ask for medical evidence to be provided for any period of absence that exceeds three days. If a student’s attendance falls below 90%, you will be expected to provide medical evidence for the absence to be authorised

If you aren't sure if your child should come to school, please click on this link for NHS guidance: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Absence from school during term time

Legal background and Department for Education (DfE) guidelines

While schools are required to consider parental requests for absence from school in term time, it still remains the legal duty of parents to ensure the regular attendance of a child of compulsory school age. Failure to do so could result in the local authority issuing a penalty notice or prosecuting the parents in the magistrates’ court.

DfE guidelines clearly state that absence from school can be taken in exceptional circumstances, and this means that the parent must make a strong case for taking a child out of school in an academic year. Exceptional circumstances must be explained fully to the school, who will then consider the request. Any medical appointments/procedures during school time are always authorised, but the school does require evidence, such as appointment cards or letters.

Parents should not expect that schools would automatically agree to an absence from school during term time. The school is not able to authorise any holiday during term time unless it is because of an exceptional circumstance. Requests for exceptional leave of absence should be sent to the Headteacher in writing.

Appointments and holidays

Doctors, dental, and hospital appointments

Please try to book any appointments outside school hours. It is really important that interruptions to your child’s learning are kept to a minimum. We understand that there are occasions when appointment times are out of your control.

Request for absence — key points for parents

Request for absence during term time will not be authorised.
Any requests for the purpose of visiting family, attending family occasions, or celebrations will not be authorised.
Parents are at risk of receiving a penalty notice for unauthorised absence. This is a fine of £60 per parent, per child, if paid within 21 days or £120 if paid within 28 days.
If a pupil's attendance is below 95% and the request for absence is more than 5 days, parents may be prosecuted.
If prosecuted and found guilty, the parent faces a punishment of a fine of up to £2,500 and/or 3 months' imprisonment.
Request for absence of 21 days or more may result in pupils being removed from the school register.
If a pupil is removed from the school register:
- The pupil cannot return to school
- Parents will need to register their child with the local authority to apply for a new school place.