What is considered good attendance?
Regular and punctual attendance is essential for effective learning, promoting positive relationships and developing good attitudes to education. Good attendance is considered above 96%, or approximately no more than one day of absence each half term.
What is an acceptable absence?
An absence is classified as authorised when a child has been away from school for a legitimate reason. Only the school can make an absence authorised. An absence is classified as unauthorised when the school believes a child is away from school without good reason. For example, if a parent takes a child out of school to go shopping during school hours.
Regular and punctual attendance is essential for effective learning, promoting positive relationships and developing good attitudes to education. Good attendance is considered above 96%, or approximately no more than one day of absence each half term.
What is an acceptable absence?
An absence is classified as authorised when a child has been away from school for a legitimate reason. Only the school can make an absence authorised. An absence is classified as unauthorised when the school believes a child is away from school without good reason. For example, if a parent takes a child out of school to go shopping during school hours.
First day absence procedure:
All parents and carers must notify the school of a child's absence by 9am by either calling the absence line on 01202 676207 or by emailing office@st-marys.poole.sch.uk. In both cases, we need to be informed of the child's name, their class and the reason they are absent.
The school office will always contact parents if a child is absent and the school has not been notified.
Requests for Leave of Absence in Term Time
Following amendments to UK legislation, Head Teachers are only allowed to grant leave of absence from school in exceptional circumstances. The decision as to whether any request is considered as ‘exceptional circumstances’ rests solely with the Head Teacher.
All parents and carers must notify the school of a child's absence by 9am by either calling the absence line on 01202 676207 or by emailing office@st-marys.poole.sch.uk. In both cases, we need to be informed of the child's name, their class and the reason they are absent.
The school office will always contact parents if a child is absent and the school has not been notified.
Requests for Leave of Absence in Term Time
Following amendments to UK legislation, Head Teachers are only allowed to grant leave of absence from school in exceptional circumstances. The decision as to whether any request is considered as ‘exceptional circumstances’ rests solely with the Head Teacher.
There are sometimes exceptional reasons why a child may not be able to attend school such as medical appointments. The fundamental principles for defining ‘exceptional’ are rare, significant, unavoidable and short; 'unavoidable' should be taken to mean an event that could not reasonably be scheduled at another time.
Any request should be made a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the leave of absence and should be submitted to the school using the 'Request for Leave of Absence' form, Parents/Carers may be asked to provide additional information/evidence or meet with the school to discuss the circumstances.
Parents/carers will be notified of the Head Teacher’s decision at the earliest opportunity. If the circumstances are not considered to be exceptional then parents/carers will be informed of this and made aware that the Local Authority may be asked to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice if a child fails to attend school.
Any request should be made a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the leave of absence and should be submitted to the school using the 'Request for Leave of Absence' form, Parents/Carers may be asked to provide additional information/evidence or meet with the school to discuss the circumstances.
Parents/carers will be notified of the Head Teacher’s decision at the earliest opportunity. If the circumstances are not considered to be exceptional then parents/carers will be informed of this and made aware that the Local Authority may be asked to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice if a child fails to attend school.
Penalty Notices
A Penalty Notice involves a fine of £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days. this will increase to £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days. If this is 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 are 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.
A Penalty Notice involves a fine of £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days. this will increase to £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days. If this is 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 are 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 the Penalty Notice is not paid BCP Council will consider prosecution proceedings under s.444(1) or 444(1A) Education Act 1996. If convicted, sanctions can include a fine of up to £2,500 and a prison sentence of up to 3 months, and you will have a criminal record. More information is available in the download below.
Request for Leave of Absence form (available below or from the school office)
Request for Leave of Absence form (available below or from the school office)
Application for leave of absence from school Sept 2024 onwards
BCP Code of Conduct - applies from 19 08 24
Absence Penalty Notice information for parents and carers (BCP)
Helping parents to understand the changes to fines for term time holidays (BCP)
Attendance Graph for 2023 - 2024