Attendance
At Hanham Woods Academy we want and expect our students to attend school every day, unless they are really not well enough to.
We believe children who attend regularly are more likely to feel settled in school, maintain friendships, keep up with their learning and gain the greatest benefit from their education.
Attending on time every day also helps students form good habits which can stay with them throughout their education and on into the workplace.
Support for your child in school
Please remember we are here to help in any way we can. If you have any concerns about your child that you wish to discuss with us, please do get in touch.
For attendance concerns please contact us via the Attendance email address [email protected] or welfare support contact your child’s pastoral leader or for safeguarding concerns email [email protected]
Arriving at school on time
Arriving at school on time is not only essential for the student’s learning, it encourages habits of good timekeeping and lessens any classroom disruption. Late arrival means students risk missing important information which can seriously disadvantage them and can disrupt other learning.
Students can arrive from 8am. The Academy canteen is open from this time for breakfast or your son or daughter may have been invited to join the academy breakfast club from 8.15am
- All students are expected to arrive at school in good time for the start of the school day before 8.30am.
- If a student arrives after 8.30am, they will be marked in the register as late and will be issued with a sanction. Students with multiple late marks will receive a more serious sanction.
Staff may ask to meet with parents/carers of students who regularly arrive late to discuss reasons for lateness and explore solutions.
Illness
Students should attend school on every day the school is open, unless they are really not well enough to.
Minor ailments should not be a reason for staying at home. If your child attends school when feeling slightly under the weather, but feels worse during the school day, they can speak to their pastoral leader who will contact you if they think your child needs to go home.
If your child is too ill to attend, you must notify the academy before 8.30am on the each day of absence. If your child is ill for more than one day, you will need to notify the academy on each morning of the absence, unless otherwise agreed. Failure to do this will result in a truancy call. The pastoral leaders may call during each day of absence as a welfare and keeping in touch call.
To report an absence, contact our attendance email address [email protected] . If you contact individual members of staff the message may not be passed on in time to prevent a truancy call. You may also call the absence line 01174408900 Option 2
When you contact us for a student absence we will always send a text confirming this message to you during the morning of the absence.
Please clearly explain the symptoms your child has, when the symptoms started, and when you expect your child to be well enough to return to school.
By law, schools must record all student absences and whether the absence is authorised or unauthorised.
Medical/dental appointments
Please try to arrange medical and dental appointments out of school time. If this is not possible please arrange appointments so the minimum school time is lost. Unless it is an emergency appointment, parents/carers are expected to let the academy know about the appointment in advance, with evidence of the appointment. You can email the [email protected] to notify us of appointments and to send evidence by attaching a photograph of the appointment card or text. Failure to prewarn us of an appointment may delay your son or daughter living the academy as we will require parental contact before we allow a student to leave the academy site.
Unexplained absences
The academy will follow up any student absences where the parent/carer has not contacted us to explain why, or where we are unclear about the reason for absence.
If you fail to notify us of the reason for your child’s absence, it will be recorded as unauthorised.
Where the academy has cause for concern about the reason for a student’s absence, staff may seek additional information or evidence from parents/carers, and/or make a home visit to verify the reason.
Unauthorised absences may result in a penalty notice or prosecution.
Important reminder about term-time leave
Attending school every day helps children and young people maximise their learning and enjoy the benefits of their education. It really does make a difference.
For that reason, the academy will not authorise any leave of absence in term time, unless satisfied the reason is exceptional.
We ask parents and carers to contact us in advance of any planned absence during term time. Any requests should be put in writing via the appropriate form available from reception or the academy website. The parent or carer who the child normally lives with should make the application. An email is also an acceptable way of making this request. The Academy will write back following this request.
Parents/carers are reminded that unauthorised term-time leave may result in a penalty notice or prosecution.
Further information
If you have any questions about the information provided, or any other attendance related questions, please contact the attendance team, either your child’s pastoral leader, Miss Dale the Attendance administrator or Mrs Jane Thurston Attendance Lead. To do this you can email the attendance email address [email protected]
Our full school attendance policy can be found on the academy website.
