Parents Information

Welcome to our Parents Information
Parent Classes:
ESOL classes will be running in the cookery room at the following times:
Monday 9am - 11am
Tuesday 9am - 11am
Wednesday 9am- 11am and 11pm - 1pm
Family Literacy will be running in the school library every Thursday from 9.00 - 11.45
Any parents interested in joining the group can contact Mr Kendall for more information.

A new Bhangra Dance club funded by the National Lottery Awards for All scheme will be run by Mrs Suali from April 2008. The funding has also enabled us to buy a set of Steel Pans. Mr Kendall will be starting groups called 'The Sandy Beeches'for both parents and adults when the pans arrive later in the Summer of 2008. No musical experience is necessary! You will learn traditional caribbean peices of music and other popular arrangements too. Mr Kendall needs parents to teach him music from other countries which can be played on the pans and performed across Peterborough. If you are interested or want to find out more, please contact Mr Kendall.

The Beeches Primary School Attendance Policy

Introduction
Regular attendance at school is essential to ensure uninterrupted progress and to enable children to extend their potential. The attendance pattern for all children is monitored weekly by the school.
We seek to work actively with parents to ensure a regular pattern is maintained.
Non-attendance is an important issue that is treated seriously. However each case is different and the school acknowledges that no one standard response will be appropriate in every case. Consideration is given to all factors affecting attendance before deciding what intervention strategies to apply.
In every case, early intervention is essential to prevent the problem from worsening. It is essential that parents keep the school fully informed of any matters that may affect their child's attendance.
Further details regarding roles and responsibilities are identified in appendix.

If a child is absent they can not learn.

Parental Responsibility
Throughout this policy the term 'parent' represents one parent, both parents, or carer with whom the child resides.
Parents are informed of their responsibility to ensure their children attend regularly, in the school prospectus.
Punctuality is also stressed as lateness impacts on learning not only for the individual, but the class as a whole.
Attendance is discussed with each parent at consultation evenings, with the current percentage attendance being reported.
Parents have a legal obligation to ensure their children receive a full time education. This is achieved by regular attendance at school and arriving at school for 8.55am.
Lateness of more than 30 minutes after 8.55am, results in an unauthorized absence for the whole morning session. This has an effect on the child's overall attendance percentage. (see appendix 2)
When a child is unwell, parents should contact the school before school starts on the first day of absence informing the school of the reason for absence. The school's telephone number is 209877, or parents can inform their child's teacher, Reception, years 1 and 2.

School Responsibility
The Senior Management Team and all teaching staff work to ensure a high level of enjoyment and commitment to learning as a means of ensuring regular attendance.
Specific responsibilities for attendance matters are identified in the appendix. The School’s Attendance Officer holds responsibility for attendance matters.
Where school attendance problems occur, the school will endeavour to work with parents in the interests of the child to achieve a resolution.
Attendance is recorded and data stored and analysed using the G2 Integris  Attendance system.
It is a statutory duty for class teachers to call and maintain accurate registers; these are legal documents, and may be called for as evidence by the court. Class Teachers are legally responsible for marking their class attendance register twice per day at the start of each session.
The Headteacher, not parents, authorises absence;
Absence for any reason during term time is discouraged.
Absence known to be for the following reasons would be authorised:

• Illness
• Religious observance
• Attendance at medical appointments which can not be made outside school hours

When it has become necessary to make a referral to the Peterborough City Council Attendance Service all further absences will be unauthorised pending investigation. A representative liaises with the school regarding absences following contact with the parents.
Calls from parents regarding absence are logged. After registration, checks are made to ensure that all children are accounted for. Telephone calls are made to parents of children who are not in school to ensure that children are safe; this forms part of our Child Protection procedure.

Family Holidays during Term Time
Holidays during term time are strongly discouraged due to the inevitable disruption caused to learning.
Regulation 8 Education [Pupil Registration Regulation 1995 (Amended)] gives schools discretionary power to grant leave for the purpose of an annual holiday during term time. Parents do not have an automatic right to withdraw pupils from school for a holiday and in law, have to apply for permission in advance. Such permission is granted in accordance with arrangements made by the governing body and no more than one period of holiday of no more than ten school days in any academic year can be authorised. Holidays are not authorised in September or during exam periods.

When application is made for authorised absence during term time, the Headteacher gives consideration to:
The age of the child (under 5)
The nature of the parent’s wishes
The timing of the proposed absence (beginnings or ends of terms)
The attendance pattern in the present and previous academic years
The attendance percentage (at least 92%)
The child’s progress
When an absence is authorised, parents will be provided with written evidence which can be presented in the event of being stopped as part of a truancy sweep.

Rewards
The prime benefit derived from regular attendance is that continuity and progression in learning are ensured.
Certificates are awarded at the end of each term for 100% attendance. This is celebrated in assemblies.
Where positive impact is required, all staff in contact with the child must take extra care to welcome the child each morning, praise punctual attendance and acknowledge the effort the child has made.
It is also appropriate to recognise the effort the parent has made to secure the child’s attendance.
Individual sticker rewards are sometimes employed as an additional incentive where appropriate; these are designed according to the child's particular need.

Penalty notices
Penalty notices for absence from school can be issued by the Attendance and Behaviour Service based on requests from schools and the police.
The following circumstances are considered as appropriate reasons for the issuing of Penalty Notices:

• Truancy, including truancy sweeps
• Parentally-condoned absences
• Unauthorised holidays in term time
• Delayed return from extended holidays

A period of 5 days unauthorized absence will result in school applying to the Attendance Service at the Local Authority for a Penalty Notice.
Following a request by the school for the issuing of a Penalty Notice a check is made by the Attendance Service that the request meets the conditions of the Code of Conduct. A letter from the Attendance Service will inform the parents about the issuing of the Penalty Notice. Where a Penalty Notice is issued, each parent is required to pay a fine to the Local Authority.

Review
This policy will be reviewed every two years by Governors and relevant staff according to the schedule for policy review.

Appendix 1
Role Responsibility

Headteacher and a designated Governor
Operational management of the policy.
Consider requests for authorised absence. Give approval in advance in appropriate circumstances, taking account of the child’s attendance record to date.
Authorise absence after it occurs when a satisfactory explanation is accepted.
Consider the use of a Penalty Notice for unauthorised absence or lateness.
Complete Headteacher witness statements on pupil absence for court use.
Ensures parents and carers know about term dates in advance.

School's Attendance Officer
Oversee day to day attendance procedures.
Monitor pupil attendance and take action according to this policy.
Analyse trends in attendance data to identify appropriate action.
Investigate reasons for absence exploring any underlying cause either at home or in school.
Ensure action is taken in response to any difficulties reported according to the Behaviour policy [e.g. bullying/behaviour].
Work in partnership with parents to improve poor attendance.
Liaise with Peterborough City Council Attendance Service and make referrals as necessary.
Work with the Peterborough City Council Attendance Service towards improved patterns of attendance for referred pupils identifying the course of action that should be taken.
Make referrals to other agencies where appropriate.
Work with Class Teachers to agree and implement strategies to reengage pupils with emerging attendance problems.
Work with relevant staff to plan reintegration for pupils who have been absent for a period.
Compile and update standard letters re: % attendance , notification of reasons for absence, lateness.
Manage incentives to encourage regular attendance.
Ensure data is accurate for the monthly and annual attendance returns.
Ensure registration of pupils at the start of morning and afternoon sessions takes place.
Report percentage attendance at parent consultations; encourage regular punctual attendance; work to secure this.
Ensure all absence notes are recorded on the system.
Work with the SMT to agree and implement strategies to re-engage pupils with emerging attendance problems.
Record late arrival and reasons.
Ensure reasons for absences are accurately recorded.
Update records using agreed codes.
Make calls to parents when first day of absence contact has not been made by parents.
Prepare standard letters requesting reasons for absence when this is unexplained.
Prepare letters to inform parents when a child's attendance is giving cause for concern and is thus being monitored
Collect absence notes and record reasons for absence.
Provide attendance reports when requested.

Teaching Staff
Ensure registers are completed at the start of the morning and afternoon sessions.
Record attendance with the following codes / for present or N for no reason yet provided.
Change N for L on late arrival before closure of register at 9.10am.
Leave all other codes to the School Attendance Officer.
Record messages from parents using the icon opposite the child's name on the G2 Integris System.
Legally only teachers, Higher Level Teaching Assistants and supply teachers can take the register. TAs can not.
Question parents about reasons for absence and lateness, when not provided.
Ensure reward systems are followed.

All Staff
To follow the attendance policy and support school decisions re attendance and absence.

Parents
Ensure their child attends daily and on time.
Keep the school fully informed on all matters that might affect attendance and their child in school.
Telephone school on the first day of any absence to inform school of the reason
Provide a note confirming the reason for absence on the child's return to school
If attendance becomes a problem-work with the school to improve matters.
Give serious consideration to whether it is appropriate or necessary to request term time absence.
Make application for any term time leave of absence prior to proposed dates.

Representative of Peterborough City Council Attendance Service
Work closely with school and families to resolve attendance issues.
Visit school for meetings at agreed times.
Identify, with school, cases of unauthorised absence which necessitate action and advise on responses.
Provide written reports to school in the form of consultation sheets.
Complete regular register checks.
On receipt of a written referral, take appropriate action, which may include:

• advice on strategies to improve attendance
• assessment home visits
• action planning
• agreed time-limited intervention
• attendance at weekly school meetings
• written record of work undertaken
• verbal feedback where appropriate
• liaise with other agencies
• onward referral to other agencies
• liaison with other LA departments
• preparation of cases for prosecution including sending warning letters
• convening an LA Attendance Panel
• preparing s.9 Witness Statements for Magistrates Court

Appendix 2
Letter about lateness

Dear parent/ carer
The amount of lateness in our school is a serious cause for concern.
Let me remind you, that the school gate opens at 8.45 am and the bell rings at 8.55 am. The gate has to be closed at 9.00 am so that lessons can begin and children settle down to learn. Disruptions to office staff, teachers and children, caused by late arrivals should be avoided. Your child's wellbeing is also important to us.
Taking this into consideration the school will take serious measures to ensure your child has a happy and successful time by insisting on punctuality. The school will write to you, if your child has had more than 3 days of lateness since the beginning of term. If the lateness continues the school will invite you to an Attendance Meeting to look at ways of improving your child’s punctuality.
The Attendance Service from Peterborough City Council and Social Services will be informed if there is no improvement.
The children who do improve their punctuality during the term will receive a certificate to recognise your effort in ensuring that your child learns about the importance of punctuality in life.
Yours faithfully

Appendix 3
Letter about medical appointments

Dear Parent/ carer
Although we are aware how difficult it can be to arrange a doctor’s appointment after school, I must ask you to try to do so; or if possible during the school holidays for less urgent problems like opticians or dentist check ups.
Where an appointment can’t be made outside of school hours, could you contact the school before the appointment and present the school with written proof; such as an appointment card, hospital letter or prescription. The school will only authorise the absence if prior notice of the medical appointment was received. It is not acceptable for parents to turn up unexpectedly to withdraw children for unauthorised medical appointments.
Many  parents send children to school in the morning then collect them for their appointment after registration and return them straight after the appointment. This is very helpful because it ensures that your child’s attendance is not affected.  As you know, absence even due to an appointment can affect your child’s learning and progress. We hope you will work with us to ensure every child has the best possible attendance at school.
Yours faithfully