School Day & Attendance

What do we ask parents to do?

• If your daughter/son is unavoidably absent please contact the attendance team by telephoning 01623 623149 option 1 or emailing homeschoolco-ord@brunts.evolvetrust.org on the FIRST DAY of absence.
• Please maintain contact with the Academy every day while they are absent. For absence longer than five days medical evidence is required.
• Failure to contact the Academy could result in your child receiving an UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE.
• Holidays during term time are not allowed only under extreme exceptional circumstances, these should be agreed with the head.
• Make medical and other appointments out of school time and ensure evidence of appointments is provided prior to the event.
• Contact the Academy straight away if there are any problems with attendance.
• Ensure that your child is on site for the times specified in the new timetable.

What will the Academy do?

• The Academy will send a text alert by 9.30am if your child is absent and there is no known reason.
• The importance of attendance will be regularly raised with students and positive attendance rewarded.
• Students with poor attendance will be supported by relevant staff within the Academy.
• The Academy will provide parents with attendance data alongside students’ reports.

Acceptable/Unacceptable reasons for Absence

ACCEPTABLE

• Genuine illness – not minor ailments such as headache, hay-fever or sore throat!
• Medical appointments – doctors, dentist, orthodontist but please try to make appointments outside of school hours
• Bereavements
  

UNACCEPTABLE

• Holidays – the Academy does not automatically agree to give time off in term time
• Birthdays – You should come to school on your birthday and enjoy the day with your friends
• Shopping – this can be done after school or at weekends
• Babysitting
  

HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME

We understand that it is often more expensive to take a family holiday during the school breaks. The law says that parents do not have an automatic right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time. The Academy will not authorise term time holidays unless in exceptional circumstances and as authorised by the Headteacher.

If your request for a term time holiday or other absence is refused and your child is still taken out of school, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and a penalty notice will be actioned.