Attendance

Important changes regarding attendance that will take effect from September 2024:

The government has published new guidance that will become mandatory from September.

We believe that the relationship between school and home is invaluable, and we always strive to maintain this relationship. Issuing fines makes me personally feel uncomfortable. However, it is important to remember that every child has the right to a full education, and missing even one session can significantly impact their learning. At our school, we recognise that parents do their absolute best to ensure their children attend school. We will use this new mandatory guidance as a mechanism to better support our families.

If you have any issues that could impact your child’s attendance, please contact the school immediately, and we will do our best to support you.

 

Headlines from the statutory guidance:

•  £80 Fines and Improvement Notices

Absence fines charged to parents will increase from £60 to £80, or £160 if not paid within 21 days. Rotherham Council will administer the fines.

 

• National Fine Thresholds

From September, schools must consider issuing a fine if a pupil has 5 days of unauthorised absence within a rolling period of 10 school weeks. This threshold can be met with any combination of unauthorised absences. For example, four sessions of term-time holidays plus six instances of arriving late.

 

The 10-week period can span different terms or school years. However, councils retain the discretion to issue a fine before the threshold is met. This could include situations where parents are deliberately avoiding the national threshold by taking several term-time holidays below the threshold or for repeated absences for birthdays or other family events.

 

Penalty notices are not a money-making scheme; the money paid goes straight to the local authority. Local authorities use revenues to support attendance, and any remaining surplus is paid to the Secretary of State.

 

• Mandatory Daily Data Sharing

From September, schools must share daily attendance data with the government.

 

• Flagging Long-Term Sick Leave with LAs

Schools will have to provide councils with the name and address of pupils they believe will miss 15 consecutive or cumulative days due to sickness.

 

• Late Marks

If a child arrives at school 30 minutes after the register has closed, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.