As with all aspects of a child’s life, it is the parents/carers who have a pivotal role in ensuring their child’s best interests are taken into consideration at all times. The law in relation to the regular attendance of a child at school is strict in the application of this responsibility. At Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust we want to support our parents/carers in carrying out this responsibility but at the same time, we will tender challenges where a child’s level of attendance falls behind expectations. To this end, the policy is robust in its early identification of attendance concerns and structured to ensure the appropriate level of support is put in place.

The policy is relevant to every child on the roll of a school within Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, between the ages of 3 and 16 years old. The Trust recognises that a child’s learning journey starts at the very beginning of their Early Years education, this being an important time for parents/carers to embed good habits of attendance with their child, which will follow them through their school life. The parent/carer is expected to have good routines in place to ensure their child is prepared for school each day and is ready to learn by attending regularly and being in school on time. Once established, we believe the child will easily become accustomed to all school routines and will grow through their education to become an independent learner.

We also recognise that at times difficulties may arise within a family, which can impact upon a child’s learning and school attendance. In such cases, it is important for a pupil or parent/carer to speak to a person within their school, who in confidence, will listen and discuss the best way forward. Each school offers a network of pastoral support. We believe in working closely with the pupils and parents/carers to ensure a child’s education is not interrupted and they can continue to attend school regularly.

Context of the school attendance measures

A parent/carer is responsible for ensuring their child being of compulsory school age receives a suitable full-time education and attends school regularly. This is a legal requirement. A child reaches compulsory school age on or after their fifth birthday. If they turn five between 1 January and 31 March, they are of compulsory school age on 31 March; if they turn five between 1 April and 31 August they are of compulsory school age on 31 August. If they turn five between 1 September and 31 December, they are of compulsory school age on 31st December. A child continues to be of compulsory school age until the last Friday of June in the school year that they reach sixteen.

Leave of Absence in Term Time

As our schools are situated across four local authorities, there will be a variation in the penalties imposed where leave of absence in term time is taken and has not been granted.

The process for issuing fines is regulated in different ways by each local authority, links for which can be found the relevant local authority website

Any enquiries to be made to Mrs Hilary Robinson, Head of Attendance.