Attendance and Absence

We believe that pupils can only take full advantage of their education if they attend school regularly and punctually. 

The academy continually monitor children’s attendance in school, as there is a proven link between progress and attainment, and the number of days children attend school. Being absent for medical conditions are taken into careful consideration when monitoring individual children’s attendance records. We are also sensitive to particular family circumstances and any challenges that parents and carers may be faced with. We take our responsibility for ensuring that all children receive a high quality education very seriously and want to support families who may be finding it difficult to get their child to school regularly.

Attendance above 95% is regarded as ‘good’ and equals 10 or less days of absence over the academic year. Below 90% is ‘worrying attendance’. This means that at least 19 school days have been missed. This can impact on pupil well-being as well as progress and attainment. Children with 90% attendance or below fall within group that the government define as ‘persistently absent’.

In line with government expectations and our academy policy, parent and carers will be contacted where the academy has a concern regarding a child’s attendance, to both raise awareness and offer support.  It should be noted that members of the senior leadership team are available to talk with anyone experiencing difficulties.

Unplanned absence

The pupil’s parent/carer must notify the school of the reason for the absence on each day of an unplanned absence by 8.00am or as soon as practically possible by calling the academy office team members on 01424 425670. If parents do not have mobile phone credit, they should email office@thebairdprimaryacademy.org.uk and ask the academy to contact them. We will not accept notifications by email and will always follow this up with a phone call.

We will mark absence due to illness as authorised unless the academy has a genuine concern about the authenticity of the illness.

If the authenticity of the illness is in doubt, the academy may ask the pupil’s parent/carer to provide medical evidence, such as a doctor’s note, prescription, appointment card or other appropriate form of evidence.

We will not ask for medical evidence unnecessarily. If the academy is not satisfied about the authenticity of the illness, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and parents/carers will be notified.

Planned Absence

Attending a medical or dental appointment will be counted as authorised if the pupil’s parent/carer notifies the academy in advance of the appointment. 

If a pupil is present at registration but has a medical appointment during the session in question, no absence needs be recorded for that session. We encourage parents/carers to make medical and dental appointments out of academy hours where possible. Where this is not possible, the pupil should be out of school for the minimum amount of time necessary.

The pupil’s parent/carer must also apply for other types of term-time absence as far in advance as possible of the requested absence.

To request a leave of absence, parents must complete a withdrawal from Learning form, which can be obtained from the main office either in person or via email on office@thebairdprimaryacademy.org.uk.

Lateness and punctuality

If a pupil arrives after the register has closed will be an unauthorised absence unless prior details about the absence have been shared and authorised by the principal.

Lateness and punctuality are monitored throughout the term by the attendance officer. Where concerns exist about a pupil’s punctuality (a pupil is late more than 7 times in a term), a letter will be sent to remind the parent of the importance of punctuality. If this continues a conversation may be had with the parent as to how we can support the pupil to be in school on time.

To read our full Academy attendance policy, please see our policies page

Policies