Belmont School Attendance
At Belmont, huge importance is placed on student attendance, and this is reflected in our attendance record, which has consistently been above 93% in recent years. We couldn’t have any better evidence that our pupils want to be here and want to learn.
The Local Authority fully supports our attendance aim to achieve outstanding attendance and ideally there should be no unauthorised absence. Parents are responsible in law for ensuring that their child/children attend and stay at school.
Informing the School of an Absence
It is crucial that school is informed of an absence so that we know your child is safe. Parents should call school on 01242 216180 as early as possible with the reason for any absence.
If a child is absent and no message has been received, the office administrator will telephone the parents/carers to investigate the reasons for absence. The office will refer to the contact details held in school, and if there is no response, will work through the telephone numbers provided in the order that they have been ranked.
Registers will be marked in school giving the reason for absence – for instance, illness or medical appointments.
When you know in advance that your child will be absent from school (for example, for a medical appointment) please inform school before the date in question. However, we do request that appointments are booked out of school hours wherever possible to ensure that your child does not miss any of their schooling.
The Attendance Officer has a duty to check school registers and will follow up irregular or persistent absence for which there has been no satisfactory explanation.
Exceptional Circumstances for Absence
Government regulations, implemented from 1 September 2013, state that Head Teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time (for example, family holidays) unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’. Applications must be made in writing, and in advance of leave and the Head Teacher must be satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances based on the individual facts and circumstances of the case.
An Application for Leave of Absence form is available from the school office or under the Parents tab (forms).
Where no notification has been received, or the reason is unjustified then the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. Unauthorised absences are published nationwide and include truanting. It is important to note that the regulations state that absences can be authorised only by the school, not by the parents.
For further information please refer to the Attendance Policy under Key Information (Policies & Procedures).
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