Talbot Primary School

Attendance and Absence

'Every child, every day.'

PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY ON REPORTING ABSENCE

Please see the Attendance Policy

A child not attending school is considered a safeguarding matter. This is why information about the cause of any absence is always required. If your child is absent you must: 

• Contact us as soon as possible on the first day of absence
• Parents need to bring to the school evidence of dates of medical appointments, e.g. copy of medical letter and complete a leave of absence form
• Medical evidence may be required if your child has above average illness this could be a copy of a prescription, labelled medication or an appointment card.

 IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT WE WILL: 

• Telephone or text you on the first day of absence if we have not heard from you, this is because we have a duty to ensure your child’s safety as well as their regular school attendance.  
• We may refer the matter to the Leeds City Council School Attendance Service if absence falls below 90% (Appendix two: school based interventions)
• If we believe that your child is absent due to a holiday you may be issued with a penalty notice per parent per child. Click here.

 AUTHORISED ABSENCE IS DEFINED AS:

• Genuine illness
• Medical or dental appointment (routine appointments should be arranged out of school time)
• Bereavement – (Headteacher’s discretion)
• Religious observance (no more than 2 days per academic year)
• Approved leave in term time where there are exceptional circumstances, as agreed by the Headteacher.

UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE IS DEFINED AS:

• Holidays in term time (following the Department for Education’s Guidelines - see below)
• Absence in term time where permission has not been given by the school in accordance with the Attendance Policy. This means that parents and carers do not have the right to take their child out of school during term time.
• Late, after the registers have closed (a ‘U’ code will be used)
• Any absence that the school has not been informed of by letter or by telephone;
• Unexplained absence. Any child whose absence is on-going and remains unexplained for an extended period (10 days) will be referred to the local authority as a child missing education (CME)
• Taking the rest of the day off before or after a medical appointment.
• Staying at home to care for younger children or sick relatives;
• Going shopping or having a haircut;
• Birthdays, Weddings or Anniversaries;
• Transport issues e.g. car broken down;
• Travelling to airport to meet relatives/friends;
• Translating
• Visiting sick relatives

% ATTENDANCE EXPRESSED IN NUMBER OF DAYS ABSENT

Attendance/absence is presented as a percentage figure, but it’s helpful to equate this to number of days off:

Over 5 years children with an average attendance of 85-90% will have missed half a school year of education while children with an average attendance of 80% will have missed a whole school year.

In August 2024, the DfE updated its guidance to support better attendance for all, in its document Working Together to Improve School Attendance. The DfE have produced a useful guidance sheet to support Parents and Carers addressing some common worries and questions.  Take a look below.  As a school, we will continue to work with you to support attendance,  Please do contact if you would like support on improving your child's attendance at school.  

Leeds City Council also published an update in August 2024 which sets out what will happen if Parents and Carers take their child(ren) on holiday during term-time.  The Council have updated the penalty notice framework - which includes an increased penalty notice for a second occurence and legal action after that.  We echo the Council's views on the importance of ensuring that every child is in school, every day.  Please see below for a useful summary sheet from Leeds City Council.