Attendance & Punctuality
The Governors and teachers of Newhey Community Primary School recognise the importance of attendance and attendance related issues in the overall operation of the School. A Policy has been drawn up by the Headteacher of the School, in conjunction with the Education Welfare Service.
In order to allow children to gain the maximum benefit from their time in school, parents are asked to ensure that they attend school regularly. If children do not attend school regularly, their education will be seriously affected in spite of the efforts of their teachers. When a child has to have unavoidable time off school such as to keep a medical appointment, his/her parents should contact the school either by telephone or letter. There is a standard letter if the school has not received a reason for a child’s absence and if this is not returned to school, the absence will be deemed unauthorised.
The Education Welfare Officer will be contacted regarding children who do not attend regularly.
Term Time Holidays
The law says that parents do not have the right to take their child out of school for holidays during term-time.
Following changes to Department of Education advice on School Attendance the Headteacher may not authorise any term time holidays unless there are exceptional circumstances.
If the school refuses a request for term-time leave and the child/young person is still taken out of school, this would be recorded as unauthorised absence by the school and noted as such in their records.
Family Holidays/Other Absences
It should not be necessary for any parent to take their child out of school for family holidays during term time and these holidays will not be authorised.
However, in “exceptional circumstances” only (which does not include a family holiday at different times of year due to cost), permission may be sought by writing to the Governing Body.
The school has a request form for leave of absence which must be completed. These are available from the school office or you can download one here. Parents should provide as much information as possible as to why they deem their request has “exceptional circumstances.”
Members of the Governing Body will consider these requests weekly and parents will be informed of their decision by letter.
Year 2 and Year 6 children - National Curriculum Assessments of 7 and 11 year olds are carried out during the month of May/June using both teacher assessment and Statutory Assessment Tests/Tasks (SATs) and requests for leave of absence during this time will not be authorised.
Inclusive Attendance
Newhey Community Primary School is proudly recognised as an Inclusive Attendance school. Our unwavering commitment to attendance centres around child-centric actions, evidence-informed practices, and a shared understanding of everyone's roles and collective responsibilities to promote exceptional attendance.
At Newhey Community Primary School, we are driven by an unwavering commitment to making school attendance a top priority, fully integrated with every aspect of school improvement. Using the Inclusive Attendance Model – the first and only accredited programme providing the pedagogy of practice – we support children and families to connect, belong, and thrive.
Inclusive Attendance Professional Development Model
The Inclusive Attendance professional development model fundamentally guides our attendance approach. Comprising six tailored Learning Modules, this model empowers us to deepen our understanding by facilitating continuous professional learning for all staff. Within this model, the four domains of practice ensure the provision of professional learning, professional development, evidence-based practices, and exemplary leadership and management seamlessly integrate theory into practice.
Inclusive Attendance Implementation Programme
Each year, Newhey Community Primary School reviews and further enhances attendance practices through dedicated participation in the Inclusive Attendance 7-month implementation programme. This investment allows us to remain at the forefront of educational change and extends unparalleled support to our children and their families, equipping them with access to the finest possible support.
Impact and Collaboration
Through our ongoing year-long implementation programme, and five year long-term strategy, we deliver measurable impact by creating an inclusive attendance culture and improving outcomes for all children and young people. We are outward-facing in our approach and value working regionally and nationally, through a systems-led model with other schools and external agencies. We continually strengthen and enhance our offer year on year. This work is underpinned by ongoing accredited CPD for staff each year, ensuring sustainable change, stronger outcomes for children and young people, and a deeply embedded culture of collective responsibility.
Multi-Tiered System of Support
To guarantee a comprehensive approach to attendance, we implement a Multi-Tiered System of Support. A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for school attendance involves three tiers of intervention, with roles for teachers, the school, children, parents, and external agencies – including the Local Authority. Data-driven decision-making and training requirements are pivotal to the implementation of the system. The system aligns with the Department for Education's (DFE) "Working Together to Improve School Attendance" guidelines.
