Absence and Attendance

At Thomas A Becket Junior School we believe good attendance and punctuality are crucial to children’s learning and are vitally important in ensuring the best possible progress and achievement. Good punctuality shows respect for teachers and peers and ensures that children are ready and willing to learn. Regular attendance also improves children's social skills and raises their self-esteem.

Is my child too ill for school?

We know that as a parent it can be difficult to know whether or not your child is well enough for school. The DFE has shared a useful link from the NHS that can be helpful in knowing if your child should attend school or not with so many different childhood illnesses https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

What to do if your child is absent from school

Parents are responsible for informing the school of any absence. This must be on the first day of absence, ideally before 9:00am.

Please telephone the school (01903 202268 or 206127) and speak to a member of staff, or leave a message on the school’s answering service (option 1) stating the nature of the illness and when the child is expected to return to school.

Absences from school

Only your child's school can authorise an absence from school. If you plan to take your child out of school during term time, the absence can only be authorised if it is considered that there are exceptional circumstance. It is for the Headteacher to decide whether they consider the reasons given amount to exceptional circumstances. If your child is absent without good reason, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised on the school register.

If you do not ask for or get permission to take your child out of school and do so regardless, your child's absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

Taking holidays in term time

From 1 September 2013, a change to government legislation means that schools are no longer allowed to authorise requests for children to be taken out of school for a holiday during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. These circumstances will be determined by your child's headteacher, including the number of school days your child can be away from school if leave is granted. You must allow enough time for the headteacher to consider your request before leave is taken. It is possible that the headteacher may refuse permission. Parents can be given a penalty notice or prosecuted for periods of unauthorised holidays.

Being late for school

It is important your child arrives to school on time. If they are late and miss the register, it may be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Attendance Matters - ‘Every Day Counts’

1 or 2 days a week doesn’t seem that much but…

If your child misses	That equals…	Which is…	And over 13 years of school that’s…
1 day a fortnight	20 days per year	4 weeks per year	Nearly 1.5 years
1 day a week	40 days per year	8 weeks per year	Over 2.5 years
2 days a week	80 days per year	16 weeks per year	Over 5 years
3 days a week	120 days per year	24 weeks per year	Nearly 8 years