Attendance

All parents want their children to do well at school and achieve their best. To make the most of school, children need to be there. At Bridgeway Federation, we are committed to ensuring that its pupils receive their full entitlement to an education. A child has a right to be in school for 190 days. High levels of attendance contribute significantly to pupil’s learning and are of fundamental importance to a child’s life chances. There is a clear link between high levels of attendance and success in school.

 

Our expectation is that students arrive on time and attend every day the school is open unless there is an unavoidable reason for not doing so.

 Please try to make sure:

Your child arrives between 8.40 and 8.50 each morning.

Your child comes to school every day.

  •  If a pupil is to be absent, parents/carers must call the school by 8.40am on the day of the absence stating a reason for their absence.

  • If a parent/ carer has not contacted the school to explain an absence the school follows this up. The police will be informed if a child has not arrived at school and parents /carers expected the child to be there.

  • Please try to organise doctor and dentist appointments out of school hours. If this is not possible, please collect your child for their appointment and return them to school afterwards.  We will require you to show evidence of this appointment such as an appointment letter or text in order for us to authorise the absence.

 

Authorised (approved) absence – types of authorised absence that may be approved:-

  • Leave of absence - for bereavement, funeral

  • Medical absence for appointments – at Hospital or Orthodontic appointments. (Non-urgent routine check-up appointments should be made for after school hours or during the school holidays.) Students are expected to be absent for the minimal amount of time and not absent for the whole day as expect for evidence of the appointment to be given.

  • Illness

  • Religious observance

  • If a student is excluded from school for a behaviour related incident, this is an authorised absence.

 
Unauthorised (not approved) absence – types of absence that will not be approved

  • Absence due to birthday, shopping for uniform, family visiting, looking after family members.

  • Holiday in term time unless there are exceptional circumstances agreed to by the Head teacher – in line with changes to the law implemented in 2013.

  • Late arrival to school after the register has closed has to be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

 Lateness

All pupils are expected to be in school for registration at the start of the day. School gates are closed promptly at 8.50a.m. All children arriving after this time enter through the front door and sign in late at the office. Any pupil arriving after the closure of registration will be recorded as late.

 

Holidays in Term Time

Parents are strongly encouraged to take family holidays during the school holidays. We feel that attendance at school is vital if your child is to be as successful as we would all like. No holidays will be authorised during term time. Any holidays taken will be recorded as unauthorised on a child’s attendance register. Any requests for absence due to special circumstances on medical, religious or compassionate nature should be made in writing to the Headteacher.

 The school will inform the local authority if any child has 10 or more unauthorised sessions within 10 school weeks, which may result in a penalty notice. This is a fixed penalty of £80 for each parent/carer per child. (If paid within 21 days, rising to £160 thereafter)

For further information regarding holidays in term time, please use the following link

https://life.southglos.gov.uk/kb5/southglos/directory/advice.page?id=20yPKvKxC1A

 If you need further information regarding attendance please look at our attendance policy it is also available from the school office.