Attendance and Punctuality
Everyday counts at Oasis Bank Leaze. We understand the correlation between high levels of attendance and student outcomes. Our Attendance Policy emphasises positive strategies & a range of interventions to promote excellent attendance.
We realise some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances but we also know that when pupils miss too much school, regardless of the reason, it can cause them to fall behind academically. A pupil can fall behind by missing just a few days a year. Children are very unlikely to succeed if they are chronically absent, missing 18 or more days over the course of the school year.
Nationally, most pupils miss around 6 days per year. If a child is missing more than that, they are simply going to school less than most children. That makes it incredibly hard for them to do as well as most children.
Reporting Absence
Morning registration takes places at 8.45am. Children who are not present when the register is taken will be marked absent.
Parents must phone the school by 9:00am on day one of absence and every subsequent day to report their child absent, unless expressly agreed otherwise. Failure to do this will result in the absence being unauthorised.
At the discretion of the Principals , once a child has missed 5 days of school, whether as one or numerous periods of absence, all subsequent days will be unauthorised unless medical evidence is provided.
Appointments During the School Day
In order to maximise individual achievement parents should avoid making routine appointments during the school day. If a child does have an appointment during the school day parents must inform the school as soon as possible. Proof (appointment card, letter, text reminder etc.) should be provided wherever possible.
When possible children should come to school beforehand and return to school after an appointment. Taking a whole day off school for an appointment is, in most circumstances, unnecessary. Any unnecessary absences due to appointments will be marked unauthorised.
Holidays During Term Time
The Department for Education (DfE) regulations make it clear that Head Teachers may not grant any holidays during term time. Other absences may be granted in exceptional circumstances. All requests for absence must be made in advance and in writing.
A request of absence can only be authorised for the following reasons:
- Forces personnel on leave from a foreign posting
- Parents' employment restrictions - a letter from the employer is required
- Significant family event (e.g. wedding) - evidence required
- Significant cultural event (e.g. pilgrimage, Appleby Horse Fair etc.)
- Visa/Passport renewal - evidence required