Attendance | Salendine Nook

Introduction

At The Salendine Nook High School we know that good attendance matters. Our target for pupils is at least 98%.

Pupils who have good attendance: achieve better results, make better friendships and have improved self-esteem and confidence. We value parents’ support in ensuring their children attend school every day and get the most out of their opportunities and time in school. Whilst we understand that there are occasions when students will have medical conditions that will cause absence, we are keen to promote resilience to minor ailments, such as colds and sore throats, whenever possible. We know that time spent with the high quality staff in lessons is invaluable.

Your support is vital. The school has a dedicated team who are happy to discuss any concerns or problems you may have regarding attendance. Feel free to contact Miss Banks eb@snhs.uk or Mrs Javed fj@snhs.uk and we will be pleased to help.

Our Attendance policy can be read by clicking here.
The Legal Intervention Flowchart for Parents is available here

Hi my name is Emma, I'm the Attendance Manager here at Salendine Nook. Below, you should find all the information you need regarding attendance at SNHS. However if there is anything else you need please do call or email me using my contact details below.

Emma Banks
Attendance Manager
01484 657541 (EXT 1407)
eb@snhs.uk

Attendance Information

Please contact the school every day before 8.40am to report your child’s absence. You can leave a message on the school answer phone 01484 657541, use the Edulink app or email the office at office@snhs.uk , stating your child’s name, class and reason for absence.

As part of our safeguarding procedures, the school operates an automated first day call up system. This means that if we are not notified that your child will be absent from school, you will be contacted by email, text or phone until we have confirmation of the absence. If we do not hear from you our Attendance and Pupil Support Officer may conduct a home visit.

Letter from the Department for Education

We are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused some parents to feel less confident with assessing whether their child is well enough to be in school so we have laid out some information which we hope you will find helpful.

There is wide agreement among health professionals and educational professionals that school attendance is vital to the life chances of children and young people. Being in school improves health, wellbeing and socialisation throughout the life course. The greatest benefits come from children and young people attending school regularly.

It is usually appropriate for parents and carers to send their children to school with mild respiratory illnesses. This would include general cold symptoms: a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat. However, children should not be sent to school if they have a temperature of 38°C or above. We would encourage you to share the NHS ‘Is my child too ill for school?’ guidance with parents and carers in your schools and communities which has further information.

In addition to respiratory illnesses, we are aware that more children may be absent from school due to symptoms of anxiety than before the pandemic. Worry and mild or moderate anxiety, whilst sometimes difficult emotions, can be a normal part of growing up for many children and young people. Being in school can often help alleviate the underlying issues. A prolonged period of absence is likely to heighten a child’s anxiety about attending in the future, rather than reduce it. DfE has published useful guidance on mental health issues affecting a pupil’s attendance and those who are experiencing persistent symptoms can be encouraged to access additional support.

Thank you for your continued commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, England
Pat Cullen, General Secretary, Royal College of Nursing
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair, Royal College of General Practitioners
Dr Camilla Kingdon, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
William Roberts, Chief Executive, Royal Society for Public Health
Dr Lade Smith, President, Royal College of Psychiatrists

Holidays are not allowed during term time, this is in line with the legal requirement for your child to be in school. No holidays will be authorised in term time. If you do plan to take your child out of school during term time you must request this in writing or by email to eb@snhs.uk informing us of the dates your child will be absent from school.

I must remind you that as parents it is your legal responsibility to ensure that your child attends school regularly and punctually. Failure to do so may result in a Penalty Notice being issued against you and/or legal proceedings being considered. The fine, penalty notice is £60/£120 per parent, per child.

Penalty Notices may be issued:
• If Parents/Carers have not sought permission before taking their child out of school for a leave of absence in term time
• If the request has been refused but the absence occurs anyway
• If the pupil has not returned to school by the agreed date with no satisfactory explanation
• Where the leave of absence has been recorded by the school as unauthorised in the attendance register on at least 10 sessions (5 school days).
Where Parents/Carers continue to take unauthorised leave of absences in term time, despite having previously been issued with a Penalty Notice, the local authority will consider a prosecution under the S 444 of the Education Act 1996.

You also need to be aware that if your child fails to return to school following 20 days of absence he/she is at risk of losing their school place.
If you still feel that you wish to apply to take your child out of school during term time due to exceptional circumstances, please contact the Principal in writing at least 4 weeks in advance of the proposed date.

Letter 1
If your child’s attendance falls below 96%, Letter 1 may be sent to you. This is to inform you that your child’s absence is below the expected percentage. We will be monitoring to see an improvement in attendance.

Letter 2
If your child’s attendance continues to fall Letter 2 will be sent and we will contact you by phone to discuss your child’s attendance. These conversations are usually very beneficial and informative to parents and the school alike. Support is offered if required and strategies are discussed to help improve attendance where applicable.

Letter 3
If your child’s attendance falls for a second 4-week period, you will be invited to come along to school and discuss your child’s attendance with our Attendance and Pupil Support Officer (APSO), Mrs Javed. You will be set an attendance target with possible issue of penalty notice if the target is not met.