Attendance

Report an Absence and other Attendance Enquiries

attendance@westsideschool.org.uk

Attendance expectations 

The school has high expectations for pupils’ attendance and punctuality, and will ensure that these expectations are communicated regularly to parents and pupils. 

Pupils will be expected to:

• Attend school every day they are required to be at school, for the full day. 
• Attend school punctually.
• Attend every timetabled lesson.

The school day will start at 9:10am, and pupils will be in their classroom, ready to begin lessons at this time; therefore, pupils will be expected to be on the school site by 9:00am. Pupils will have a morning break at 10:40am, which will last until 11:00am, and a lunch break at 12:30pm, which will last until 1:00pm – pupils will be expected to have returned from each break and be ready to recommence learning at the stated times.

Registers will be taken as follows throughout the school day:

• The morning register will be marked by 9:20am. Pupils will receive a late mark if they are not in their classroom by this time. Pupils attending after this time will receive a mark to show that they were on site, but this will count as a late mark
• The morning register will close at 9:30am. Pupils will receive a mark of absence if they do not attend school before this time
• The afternoon register will be marked by 1:00pm. Pupils will receive a late mark if they are not in their classroom by this time
• The afternoon register will close at 1:10pm. Pupils will receive a mark of absence if they are not present

Class teachers will also take informal registers at the start of each lesson period to ensure that pupils are attending all timetabled lessons. These registers will be analysed alongside formal registers in line with the section of this policy.
Pupils will be encouraged to communicate any concerns related to attendance and absence as soon as possible to the relevant member of staff.

Absence procedures

Parents will be required to contact the school office via telephone before 9:00am on the first day of their child’s absence – they will be expected to provide an explanation for the absence and an estimation of how long the absence will last, e.g. one school day. 
Where a pupil is absent, and their parent has not contacted the school by the close of the morning register to report the absence, administrative staff will contact the parent via text message and a telephone call at the close of register on the first day that the pupil does not attend school.

The school will always follow up any absences in order to:

• Ascertain the reason for the absence.
• Ensure the proper safeguarding action is being taken.
• Identify whether the absence is authorised or not.
• Identify the correct code to use to enter the data onto the school census system

Where a pupil is absent for more than three school days in a row, or more than 10 school days in one term, the pupil’s parent will be expected to provide a signed letter with an explanation for the absence(s).

The school will not request medical evidence in most circumstances where a pupil is absent due to illness; however, the school reserves the right to request supporting evidence where there is genuine and reasonable doubt about the authenticity of the illness.
In the case of Persistent Absence, arrangements will be made for parents to speak to the Pastoral Manager. The school will inform the LA, on a termly basis, of the details of pupils who fail to attend regularly, or who have missed 10 school days or more without authorisation. 

If a pupil’s attendance drops below 85 percent, the Pastoral Manager will arrange a formal meeting with the pupil and their parent.
Attendance will be monitored every two weeks by the Attendance Officer and Pastoral Manager to help promote improvement in attendance.