School attendance

At The Linden Centre, we believe that attending school regularly is vitally important to your child’s future. If your child is absent from school, they will be missing lessons and learning opportunities. National research has proven that children who miss school frequently will fall behind with their schoolwork, which has a negative impact on exam performance and can lead to poor social skills and friendship issues.  Children who are persistently absent from school are also at increased risk of becoming involved with anti-social behaviour and crime.

We believe that every pupil should strive to achieve 100% attendance, and robust systems are in place to support families and children in achieving this goal. We promote a strong work ethic and prepare our pupils for life beyond school.  We want to maximise the future chances for all children.

We do recognise that children can be unwell. If you are unsure if your child should be at school, please call us to discuss.  Please note that children should stay off school until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days.

Mr Lennon (Head Teacher), Mrs Harvey (Safeguarding and Pastoral Leader) work closely with others in the school team to monitor student attendance, support families and implement systems that challenge poor attendance.

Useful information on attendance

Once your child is registered at a school, you are legally responsible for making sure they attend regularly. If your child fails to do so, and there are no exceptional circumstances for an absence, you are at risk of being issued with a penalty notice or being prosecuted in court.

Government guidelines for schools and nurseries about managing specific infectious diseases at GOV.UK, which say when children should be kept off school and when they shouldn’t.

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

Non-attendance

If a school identifies a child as having low attendance, letters expressing their concern will be sent by the school and to ask parents to get in touch. The Local Authority may also be informed.

Within the letter, the school may request a meeting to advise parents of legal responsibilities. We then examine any issues that may be causing poor attendance and draw up an action plan to improve the situation if necessary.

If there is no improvement in the child’s attendance, legal proceedings may follow in line with our Attendance Policy.

Leave in term time

Parents should apply to the Head teacher for any request for leave in term time by completing a request form available from school. (DfE guidance states schools should not authorise leave retrospectively)’.

The Government has renewed appeals to parents not to take their children out of school during term time. The Governors and Head teacher of the school support this and have decided that students will only be given permission to take leave in term time if there are exceptional circumstances. Each application will be considered and the Head teacher will determine the duration of any leave if it is agreed and authorised. However, if the application is not agreed and the absence occurs the dates will be unauthorised. Parents will be notified of any decision in writing. This notification may be hand delivered to the parent or posted to the parents’ home address.

As a school we are asked to inform you that, in line with Telford and Wrekin Council Policy, unauthorised absence may be subject to a penalty notice fine of £60 payable per parent, per child, increasing to £120 each if not paid within 21 days.  If this fine is not paid within 28 days this may lead to court proceedings.