Attendance
Fladbury is committed to promoting the welfare of children through regular school attendance. Good attendance at school is vital for children to achieve their full educational potential.  We know that every day lost to education can have a serious impact on their attainment and overall progress in school. We are therefore fully committed to promoting school attendance by providing an environment and ethos where children feel safe and can build positive relationships with their peers. We expect in return that parents ensure their child attends school regularly and punctually.

Children with good attendance records benefit in the following ways:

- Continuity of learning which makes progress and retention easier
- Improved performance in class
- Enhanced performance in examinations
- Continuity of relationships and friendships
- Good references for further education or employment
- Good habits are formed for later life

What constitutes good attendance?
Attendance percentages are not like examination results: an attendance percentage needs to be in the high nineties before it can be considered good.

Our Attendance Policy below provides parents with a clear understanding of our stance and procedures.  Being in school and having the best attendance possible underpins all the many benefits of school for your child, such as their learning, wellbeing and wider development.  For some children, attending school every day will be harder than others.  This is why, as a school, we are committed to working together with families to solve problems and support your child's school attendance.

Please see the following websites for further information, general advice, support and guidance: 

- Working together to improve school attendance DFE

- Everything you need to know about school attendance The Education Hub

- Worcestershire County Council 

 

Absence
You must get permission from the head teacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time.  You can only do this if:

- you make an application to the Headteacher at least 4 weeks in advance (as a parent the child normally lives with) using our Planned Absence Form and there are exceptional circumstances.

It is up to the head teacher how many days your child can be away from school if leave is granted.

You will be fined for taking your child on holiday during term time without the school's permission.

If a child is unwell and unable to attend school, we ask parents to telephone the office before 10 am to let us know. Registers are checked each day for non-attendance and a telephone call is made to those parents whose children have not arrived at school by that time.

There's extra support available if your child cannot go to school for long periods because of a health problem.

Please see this NHS website on "Is my child too ill for school?" for further advice and guidance

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Free NHS app helps parents care for their poorly child: With common childhood illnesses becoming more frequent, a free NHS app can help decide how best to care for their child.  The HANDi app (developed by specialist children's doctors) is quick and easy to use giving expert advice on a range of childhood illnesses, including diarrhoea/vomiting, high temperature, tummy pain, chestiness, head injuries and common problems experienced by newborn babies.  The app takes parents through a series of questions about their child's symptoms and then advises on the best course of action, whether that's to treat at home, to make a GP appointment, call NHS 11 or call 999.  The HANDi App is available to download for Apple phones from the app store or iTunes and for Android phones at Google Play.  Alternatively, please use the QR code:

                                                                

Help with getting your child to go to school

If you’re having trouble getting your child to go to school, we and the local council can help.

We will discuss attendance problems with you and will agree a plan with you to improve your child’s attendance.

A lot of local councils have teams that help parents improve their child’s attendance at school. The council will tell you if they’re able to help. Forms of help could include:

• support to reduce the burden on children where families are in difficulty (for example if a child is spending a lot of time caring for someone)
• working with families and schools to overcome bullying and other serious problems
• a parenting contract

Attendance contract

This is a voluntary written agreement between you and either the local council or the school’s governing body. Between us all, we agree to find ways to improve your child’s attendance.

If you refuse to make a contract or you do not stick to it, it can be used as evidence if the local council decides to prosecute you.