All schools, by law, must follow the Department for Education’s statutory guidance relating to school attendance.

The school places great importance on high levels of attendance. To achieve the expected standard in the curriculum, a pupil has to cover all of the expectation for their year group. Repeated absence means that children miss learning and this time cannot be caught up. This impacts directly on their grades at the end of the year.

We try to encourage resilience in children and advise that they only take time off if they are feeling very poorly or have a virus that can be caught by others.

As a parent/carer it is your responsibility to notify the school on each day of absence for your child, by calling the school office on 0118 9713397. You may also email the office to notify us at office@beenham.w-berks.sch.uk

Medical/Dental appointments

We ask that routine medical, dental and ophthalmic appointments are made in advance where possible, to enable you to book an after school slot or an appointment in the school holidays. If an appointment in school time is unavoidable, please provide your son or daughter’s appointment card/letter from the doctor/dentist in order to authorise the absence during school hours. We will ask all parents to provide this information.

Punctuality

Parents need to be aware that pupils arriving late to school can impact learning. Core learning of Phonics and Reading are the first lessons of each day. 

Holidays in term time

All schools, by law, must follow the Department for Education’s statutory guidance relating to school attendance.

They must use the appropriate national attendance or absence code, and follow the criteria set out within the guidance.

The statutory guidance states:

• A leave of absence must not be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances and must be requested in advance;
• A leave of absence must be requested in advance by a parent who the pupil normally lives with;
• Schools must judge each application individually, considering the specific facts, circumstances and relevant background context behind each request;
• Where a leave of absence is granted, the school will determine the number of days a pupil can be absent from school;
• A need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation does not constitute an exceptional circumstance;
• A school cannot grant a leave of absence retrospectively. If the parent did not apply in advance, the leave of absence should not be granted;
• Where this guidance refers to a parent, the school and/or local authority will need to decide which adult(s) is most appropriate.

Generally, parents include:

• All natural parents, whether they are married or not;
• All those who have parental responsibility;
• Those who have day to day responsibility for the child.

Please note – all schools are expected to regularly inform parents about their child’s attendance and absence.

Taking your child out of school during term time could be detrimental to their educational progress.

If the absence is not authorised and the leave is taken, schools may refer to the Local Authority for legal action.