Dear parents/ carers,
Attendance at Leigh Academy Minster
We are writing to remind you of the importance of regular school attendance and the impact it has on your child’s education, well-being, and overall success. At Leigh Academy Minster, we strive to provide a supportive learning environment that helps every student reach their full potential. Consistent attendance is a crucial part of that journey.
Why every lesson needs to count:
Studies show that students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well academically and feel more engaged with their school community. Attending school also supports students’ mental health and wellbeing .
Missing even a few days can have a lasting impact on learning and can make it harder for students to keep up with their peers.
When students miss school frequently, it disrupts their routine and can make it challenging to stay on top of lessons, projects, and social connections.
Leigh Academy Minster Attendance Expectations:
We ask all parents and guardians to support us in encouraging good attendance habits. Our attendance goal at LAM is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed. To reach this goal, we monitor attendance closely and may reach out if absences become frequent.
What you can do to help
- Set a consistent routine: encourage your child to have a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Schedule appointments outside of school hours: Whenever possible, schedule appointments outside of school hours to minimise missed class time.
- Communicate with us: If your child is ill or unable to attend, please contact the school promptly and provide any necessary documentation.
The changes in the law regarding attendance:
A new National Framework for Penalty Notices for school absence, including unauthorised holiday absence, has been introduced following changes to the law.
In UK schools, an authorised absence refers to a student’s absence from school that has been formally approved by the school. This means the school has accepted a valid reason for the absence, typically provided by the parent or guardian, and has recorded it as justified under official attendance regulations.
Common examples of authorised absences include:
- Illness: When a child is unwell and unable to attend school.
- Medical or dental appointments: If they cannot be scheduled outside school hours.
- Religious observance: Attendance at events or observances required by the family’s faith.
- Exceptional circumstances: Situations like a family bereavement or special events, which the school has agreed qualify as a valid reason for absence.
Schools make these decisions in accordance with guidance from the Department for Education (DfE). Unauthorised absences, by contrast, occur when a child misses school without the school’s permission or a valid reason.
These are the new Government regulations which came into effect from 19 August 2024, and we wanted to bring this to your attention, as it will affect when penalty notices are issued.
What are the changes?
- There is a new national threshold of 10 unauthorised sessions for any reason (equivalent to 5 school days) within a rolling 10 school week period for when a penalty notice must be considered.
- The new rules mean you will no longer be able to take your child out of school for one week’s holiday without a penalty notice being issued.
- There will be an increase in the penalty fine from £60 to £80 if paid in 21 days. If the fine is not paid by the first 21 days, it will rise to £160 if paid within 28 days of being issued.
- If a second penalty fine is issued to the same parent for the same child within a 3-year rolling period, the fine will automatically rise to £160 with no option to pay the lower rate of £80.
- If a parent then commits a third offence in a 3-year rolling period, the local authority will need to consider other enforcement options available to them.
We would like to thank parents and carers for their support in making sure that students do not miss any learning time.
FAQ’s:
- If I have already booked a holiday for next year, could I receive a penalty fine at the new higher rate?
Yes, if the absence has not been authorised by the Principal. Remember, only a Principal can agree whether an absence can be authorised in exceptional circumstances.
2. Who can be issued with a penalty notice?
Each parent can receive a fine for each child who has had unauthorised absence from school. In education law, anyone who lives with a child and who has day-to-day care of the child is also considered to be a parent whether they are the biological parent or not. For example, this will include step-parents and partners.
3. Do the new rules only apply to holidays during term time?
No, it applies to all unauthorised absence from school including holidays. Unauthorised absence includes other absence that has not been agreed such as truancy, arriving late after the register has closed at 9.15am and failing to provide reasons for absence.
4. How do I request for my child to have leave granted during term time?
It will be for your child’s Principal to decide as to whether there are exceptional circumstances that will allow them to grant the time off. Do not assume that the absence will be granted until you have received confirmation from the school. Any request must be put in writing at least 20 days before the proposed absence.
5. Do the 10 sessions of unauthorised absence have to be taken all at the same time before a penalty fine is issued to the parent/carer ?
No, a penalty fine can be issued for any combination of absences over a 10-week rolling period. They can be consecutive or non-consecutive and can span over two terms.
6. What happens if I am issued with a penalty fine and I don’t pay it?
Unauthorised absence from school is an offence under s444 of the Education Act 1996. A penalty fine is an opportunity for you to settle out of court. If you don’t take this opportunity, you can be prosecuted for the offence of failing to ensure your child’s regular attendance.
7. What should I do if I am worried about my child’s attendance? or if my child is too ill to attend school ?
As a parent you must contact the school immediately via email or phone. We ask parents to update us daily on their child’s condition.
8 .What if my family is experiencing challenges that may impact my child’s attendance?
Please let us know. We are here to support you and can provide information on resources that may help ensure your child can attend school consistently.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Together, we can work to make sure that your child has the best possible chance for success here at Leigh Academy Minster.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. M. Stevens | Principal
