Attendance and Punctuality

Attendance at Lawley Village Academy

At Lawley Village Academy, we believe that good attendance and punctuality are essential for children to achieve their full potential. Research consistently shows a strong link between excellent attendance, academic achievement, wellbeing and positive outcomes for children.

Every school day matters. Missing school can mean missing important learning, friendships, routines and opportunities to develop confidence and independence.

Our Attendance Target

Our whole-school attendance target is 97% - 100%.

We encourage all pupils to attend school every day unless they are genuinely unwell or there are exceptional circumstances preventing attendance.

Reporting an Absence

If your child is unable to attend school due to illness or another genuine reason, please contact the school office before 9:15am on the first day of absence.

If we do not receive notification of your child's absence, we will contact you to establish the reason. Failure to provide a reason for absence may result in the absence being recorded as unauthorised.

Working together to ensure children attend school regularly is vital in supporting their education and wellbeing.

Unauthorised Absence and Penalty Notices

In line with the national framework for Penalty Notices introduced from 1 September 2024, parents should be aware that:

10 sessions of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-school-week period may result in a Penalty Notice being issued.
The first Penalty Notice is £160 per parent, per child, reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
If payment is not received within 28 days, further legal action may be taken.
A second Penalty Notice issued within three years of the first will be charged at £160 per parent, per child with no reduced payment option.
A third Penalty Notice will not be issued within a three-year period. Instead, alternative legal action may be considered.

Further information about school attendance can be found on the Government School Attendance Guidance.

Is My Child Too Ill for School?

We understand that deciding whether to send your child to school when they are unwell can sometimes be difficult.

Consider the following questions:

Is my child well enough to take part in the school day?
Could their illness be passed on to other children or staff?
Would I be well enough to attend work if I had the same illness?

If you are unsure or concerned about your child's health, please seek advice from your GP, pharmacist or another healthcare professional.

Common Childhood Illnesses

Coughs and Colds

Children with a minor cough or cold can usually attend school. However, if symptoms are accompanied by a high temperature, shivering or unusual tiredness, children should remain at home and return when they are feeling well.

Raised Temperature (Fever)

Children should not attend school if they have a raised temperature. They should return when they are feeling well and have been free from a temperature for at least 24 hours.

Rashes

Many infectious illnesses begin with a rash. If your child develops a rash, please seek medical advice before sending them to school.

Headaches

A mild headache would not usually prevent attendance. However, if it is severe or accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, vomiting or drowsiness, your child should remain at home and medical advice should be sought.

Vomiting and Diarrhoea

Children must remain off school until 48 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea.

Sore Throat

A sore throat alone does not usually require absence from school. However, if accompanied by a high temperature or your child is feeling unwell, they should remain at home.

Chickenpox

Children should remain off school until all spots have crusted over.

Arriving Late to School

The school gates open at 8:35am and close at 8:45am.

Children arriving after 8:45am must enter through the main school office and will be marked as late in the register.

Arriving on time helps children settle quickly and ensures they do not miss important learning at the start of the day.

Medical Appointments

Wherever possible, we ask that medical and dental appointments are arranged outside of school hours.

If your child needs to attend an appointment during the school day, please notify the school office in advance and provide evidence of the appointment, such as:

Hospital appointment letter
GP appointment confirmation
Orthodontic or dental appointment letter

Monitoring Attendance

Attendance is monitored closely throughout the year.

Where attendance falls below expected levels, we will work in partnership with families to identify barriers and offer support.

Parents may receive:

Stage 1 Attendance Letter when attendance becomes a concern.
Stage 2 Attendance Letter if attendance does not improve over time.

Attendance below 90% is classed nationally as Persistent Absence.

Although 90% may sound high, it means a child is missing approximately one day of school every two weeks. This can have a significant impact on learning, progress and social development.

Our aim is always to work with families at the earliest opportunity to improve attendance and support children to succeed.

Working Together to Improve Attendance

At Lawley Village Academy, we follow the Department for Education's guidance, Working Together to Improve School Attendance, to ensure we provide effective support for families and promote positive attendance habits.

Useful information for parents can be found through:

Working Together for Success

Regular attendance helps children to build friendships, develop confidence, maintain routines and achieve their very best. By working together, we can ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive and make the most of their time at Lawley Village Academy.