At Birley Spa Primary Academy we are committed to helping all pupils to achieve their full potential. Regular attendance is a key factor in raising pupils’ attainment and supporting their personal development.
We promote good attendance through our weekly attendance competition – the class with the highest attendance over 96% in each Key Stage receives the class trophy and is displayed on our whole school attendance display. Individual children receive certificates and stickers for good or improved attendance each term.
Government guidelines stipulate that Headteachers cannot grant any leave of absence unless in exceptional circumstances. Holidays and trips abroad do not qualify as exceptional circumstances.
If a leave of absence is taken for the purpose of a holiday it will be counted as an unauthorised absence. It is probable that a penalty notice may be issued in these circumstances, and a referral to the Education Welfare Service or Attendance and Inclusion Social Worker may also be made.
Whilst it is appreciated that children are ill from time to time, please think carefully before allowing your child to be absent from school. The chart below provides an indication of how just a few days absence can significantly impact a child’s overall attendance percentage and impede their learning:
| Description | Attendance | Whole days’ learning lost | Hours of learning lost |
| Excellent | 100 – 99% | 0 – 2 | 0 – 10 |
| Good | 98 – 96% | 4 – 7.5 | 20 – 37.5 |
| Description | Attendance | Whole days’ learning lost | Hours of learning lost |
| Requires Improvement | 95 – 91% | 9.5 – 17 | 47.5 – 85 |
Remember, school attendance is your statutory responsibility as a parent or primary career. This means if your child’s attendance falls into the red region below, not only is their education suffering, but you will be referred to the Education Welfare Service and may also receive a penalty notice.
| Description | Attendance | Whole days’ learning lost | Hours of learning lost |
| Persistent Absentee | 90 – 86% | 19 – 27 | 95 – 135 |
| Critical | 85 – 80% | 28.5 – 38 | 142.5 – 190 |
Remember:
We always aim to work positively with parents, when we have concerns regarding children’s attendance. This involves School regularly keeping you updated via letters and other forms of contact regarding your child’s attendance percentage, as well as offering support or guidance whenever it is needed. We strive to work in partnership with families to find realistic solutions to overcome barriers to learning. Please contact the School office to make an appointment with our Family Support Worker or Safeguarding Officer who are available to advise you on a variety of matters.
If your child’s attendance drops below 95%, we will work with you to improve it by following the procedure below:
