Attendance and Punctuality

An authorised absence is when the school has agreed with the reason the child is not at school. Typically a school will authorise if:

• the child is too ill to attend and the school accepts this as valid (Schools should authorise absences due to illness unless they have genuine cause for concern about the veracity of an illness. If the authenticity of illness is in doubt, schools can request medical evidence to support illness. It should be noted that GPs do not provide sick notes for schoolchildren);
• the child has a medical or dental appointment;
• the child is on study leave;
• the child is being educated off-site;
• the child has been excluded;
• there are unavoidable causes such as bad weather conditions;
• the child is off school for religious observance;
• the child is attending an interview at a place of employment or different education provider.

Other reasons for absence (such as bereavement, exceptional circumstances) may be authorised and schools will make individual decisions regarding such cases. This may include celebrations such as post-adoption hearings but should not include regular sessions of family time or child in care review (CCR) meetings.

Schools have to regularly inform the Local Authority of any pupils who are regularly absent from school, have irregular attendance, or have missed 10 school days or more without the school’s permission. Only exceptional circumstances warrant a leave of absence. Schools should consider each application individually taking into account the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind the request. If a leave of absence is granted, it is for the headteacher to determine the length of the time the pupil can be away from school.

Schools also have a safeguarding duty, under Section 175 Education Act 2002, to investigate any unexplained absences.

• There is no entitlement and therefore it is not acceptable for a child to be taken out of school for a holiday during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. This will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
• Schools are not allowed to send a child home for part of a day; this is an illegal exclusion and should be challenged.

All pupils of compulsory school age are entitled to a full-time education. School also acts as a protective factor for all children including those known to social care.

There are very limited circumstances in which a child’s school should place a child on a part-time timetable. This should only happen if a part-time timetable is required because of the child’s physical or mental health needs. A school should not be using a part-time timetable to manage a child’s behaviour. 

In very exceptional circumstances, it may be appropriate for a child to attend school in a reduced capacity as part of a re-integration package. A part-time timetable must not be treated as a long-term solution. Any pastoral support programme or other agreement must have a time limit by which point the pupil is expected to attend full-time or be provided with alternative provision. In agreeing to a part-time timetable a school has agreed to a pupil being absent from school for part of the week or day and therefore must record it as authorised absence.

For children in care, the Virtual School must be involved if a reduced timetable is to be considered and a plan to ensure that the child is reintegrated into full time education must be in place.

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Becoming pregnant is not in itself a reason to stop attending school, nor to cease education.

Where a young woman becomes pregnant, the social worker, in conjunction with the Virtual School must ensure that the young woman remains in education if at all possible and arrange for her to receive support from the LA for the area in which she lives and / or the school she attends.

All children are entitled to a full-time education that meets their needs. Children must get an education between the school term after their 5th birthday and the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16. Data shows that children in care typically underperform academically; each day of non-attendance for a child in care is therefore significant.

There is no entitlement and therefore it is not acceptable a child in care to be taken out of school for a holiday during term time; social workers should not authorise this. This will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

The DFE guidance School attendance and absence: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) states that permission must be sought from the head teacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time. You can only do this if:

• you make an application to the head teacher in advance (as a parent the child normally lives with)
• there are exceptional circumstances

It’s up to the head teacher how many days your child can be away from school if leave is granted.

For children in care, requests should be made to the Head Teacher of the school the child attends AND the Virtual School Head Teacher. Permission will only be granted if the circumstances are exceptional.

Exceptional circumstances could include:

• Service personnel returning from a tour of duty abroad where it is evidenced the individual will not be in receipt of any leave in the near future that coincides with school holidays.
• Where an absence from school is recommended by a health professional as part of a parent or child’s rehabilitation from a medical or emotional issue.
• The death or terminal illness of a person close to the family.
• To attend a wedding or funeral of a person close to the family.

Both Head Teachers must agree for the absence to be authorised.