Reporting Absences
The pupil’s parent/carer must notify the school of the reason for the absence on the first day of an unplanned absence by 9.00am or as soon as possible by contacting the school office by phone on 01332 673827 or by sending an email to admin@stwerburghs.derby.sch.uk.
We will mark absence due to illness as authorised unless the school has a genuine concern about the authenticity of the illness, or the child’s attendance is below 90% and the parent/carer has signed an Attendance Agreement.
Support for Families
We understand that barriers to attendance can sometimes be complex and that every family’s situation is unique. Some children may find it harder to attend school, or there may be challenges outside of school that affect a parent or carer’s ability to bring their child to school. That’s why we take a whole-school approach to supporting good attendance, recognising the impact of our work in areas such as the curriculum, regulation, SEND support, and pastoral care. We also know that the effective use of resources, like pupil premium, can help improve attendance for all children. Building strong relationships with families and earning their trust is central to our approach, as we know that working together is key to overcoming any challenges. We’re here to work together with families to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Term Dates and Leave Guidance
Our school’s term dates and holidays can be found by selecting the school year: 2024/25 or 2025/26.
The Department for Education stipulates that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. There is no automatic right to any leave in term time, and any leave of absence is granted at the headteacher’s discretion, including the length of time the pupil is authorised to be absent for.
The school considers each application for term-time absence individually, considering the specific facts, circumstances, and relevant context behind the request. Any request should be submitted as soon as it is anticipated and, where possible, at least two weeks before the absence, and in accordance with any leave of absence request form, accessible via the school office. The headteacher may require evidence to support any request for leave of absence.
Any requests for leave during term time will be considered on an individual basis and the pupil’s previous attendance record will be considered. Where the absence is granted, the headteacher will determine the length of time the pupil can be away from school.
Requests for leave will never be granted in the following circumstances:
- Holidays
- Immediately before and during statutory assessments
- When a pupil’s attendance record shows any unauthorised absence
- Where a pupil’s authorised absence record is already above 10% for any reason
The Legal Framework: Penalty Notices
It’s important for parents and carers to know that unauthorised absences or leave from school can result in penalty notices issued by the local authority.
Penalty notices can be issued by a headteacher, the local authority officer or the police, fining parents for the unauthorised absence of their child from school, where the child is of compulsory school age.
- The first time a penalty notice is issued for term-time leave or irregular attendance the amount will be: £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days, reduced to £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days.
- The second time, within a three-year period, that a penalty notice is issued for term-time leave or irregular attendance the amount will be: £160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days.
- The third time, within a three-year period, that an offence is committed for term time leave or irregular attendance a Penalty Notice will not be issued, and the case will be presented straight to the Magistrates’ Court.
The decision on whether to issue a penalty notice may consider:
- The number of unauthorised absences occurring within a rolling academic year.
- One-off instances of irregular attendance, such as holidays taken in term time without permission.
- Where an excluded pupil is found in a public place during school hours without a justifiable reason.
If the payment has not been made after 28 days, the local authority can decide whether to prosecute or withdraw the notice.