Our Expectations At St Margaret’s

Attendance    

It is a statutory requirement for children to attend school every day unless they are too ill.  Our aim for your child is 100% attendance but anything over 96% would be considered good attendance.  This is because excellent attendance gives children the best opportunity for success in their education.

Occasionally children are too unwell to attend school, this is to be expected.  It is important that you notify school on the first day of absence so that accurate records can be maintained.  School will contact parents/carers if a child is absent with no reason.  If we are unable to make contact the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and, in some cases, we may conduct a home visit.

All holidays must be taken in the school holidays, we are at school for 195 days leaving 170 days for holidays and special events.  Holidays cannot be authorised during term time, and so you may be fined should you decide to take your child out of school.

Punctuality

Our gates are open at 8.15am until 8.30am and children should be in class by 8.30am.  Any child arriving after this will be recorded as late.  Any child arriving after 8.50am will be recorded as an unauthorised late.

How We Monitor Attendance & Punctuality

Attendance and punctuality is monitored daily at St Margaret’s by the Attendance Officer, Mrs Kopaci.  We will contact you if there is a concern and support you to improve your child’s attendance.

New Government Guidance

With effect from 19th August 2024 the government introduced new statutory guidance ‘Working Together To Improve School Attendance’ to support schools to be able to work with families effectively to improve attendance.

Under this new national framework schools are responsible for considering a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons. 

From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days. 

In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160. 

Fines per parent will be capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other action like a parenting order or prosecution will be considered. 

If you are prosecuted and attend court because your child hasn’t been attending school, you could get a fine of up to £2,500. 

For more information, please follow the link:

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/02/29/fines-for-parents-for-taking-children-out-of-school-what-you-need-to-know/