Chigwell Primary Academy aims to promote, among pupils and their parents, a high level of awareness of the need for regular and prompt attendance.  Success at school starts by being present and punctual if children are to obtain maximum benefit from the many opportunities the school provides. Research clearly demonstrates the link between regular attendance and educational progress and attainment.  Absences can also affect a child’s relationship with other children and his or her ability to form lasting friendships. It can affect a child’s confidence to attempt new work and work alongside others.

We will work with parents to ensure that all pupils achieve maximum possible attendance and that any problems that impede full attendance are identified and acted on with swift and immediate action.

Some pupils find it harder than others to attend school and therefore at all stages of improving attendance, schools and partners should work with pupils and parents to remove any barriers to attendance by building strong and trusting relationships and working together to put the right support in place. Securing good attendance cannot therefore be seen in isolation, and effective practices for improvement will involve close interaction with schools’ efforts on curriculum, behaviour, bullying, special educational needs support, pastoral and mental health and wellbeing, and effective use of resources, including pupil premium. It cannot solely be the preserve of a single member of staff, or organisation, it must be a concerted effort across all teaching and non-teaching staff in school, the trust or governing body, the local authority, and other local partners.

The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude, and any special educational need they may have. It is the legal responsibility of every parent to make sure their child receives that education either by attendance at a school or by education otherwise than at a school.

Where parents decide to have their child registered at school, they have an additional legal duty to ensure their child attends that school regularly. This means their child must attend every day that the school is open, except in a small number of allowable circumstances such as being too ill to attend or being given permission for an absence in advance from the school.

The DfE has produced guidance for maintained schools, academies, independent schools, and local authorities: Working together to improve school attendance. Our Attendance Policy reflects the key principles of that guidance which can be read here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance

The aims and practices in our Attendance policy have been informed by the latest Department for Education guidance ‘Working together to improve school attendance, (May 2022) the ‘Summary table of responsibilities for school attendance,’ (May 2022) and ‘School behaviour and attendance: parental responsibility measures, (updated May 2020).

This policy is written with the above guidance in mind and underpins our school ethos to:

• promote children’s welfare and safeguarding
• ensure every pupil has access to the full-time education to which they are entitled
• ensure that pupils succeed whilst at school
• ensure that pupils have access to the widest possible range of opportunities at school, and when they leave school

It has been developed in consultation with the REAch2 Academy Trust, school governors, teachers, local Headteachers, parents and carers’. It seeks to ensure that all parties involved in the practicalities of school attendance are aware and informed of attendance matters in school and to outline the school’s commitment to attendance matters. It details the responsibilities of individuals and groups involved and the procedures in place to promote and monitor pupil attendance and punctuality.

Our policy aims to raise and maintain levels of attendance by:

• promoting a positive and welcoming atmosphere in which pupils feel safe, secure, and valued
• raising awareness of the importance of good attendance and punctuality
• ensuring that attendance is monitored effectively and reasons for absences are recorded promptly and consistently

For our children to gain the greatest benefit from their education it is vital that they attend regularly and be at school, on time, every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable.

Follow the link below to read our Attendance Policy.