Attendance
At SMSG we are very concerned that we should maintain high levels of attendance. We now check on the first day of absence to find out why any child is absent if we haven’t been contacted by parents/carers.
If your child is absent please could you telephone us on the first day of absence by 9 am. When your child returns to school please send us a written letter confirming why they have been absent.
For the vast majority of children, attendance at St. Mary and St Giles School is good - that is attendance of 95% or better, with many children achieving 100% attendance each term. Thank you to every parent who supports good attendance - because you are giving your child the best possible chance to achieve their best.
Research has shown that where attendance falls below 90% there is a direct impact on the progress a child can make - and not only does it affect your child, but can impact on others within the class - which is why we take attendance so seriously.
Some absences are allowed by law. For example, if a child is ill or there is a family crisis such as a funeral. However, there are other times when pupils are absent which are not permitted.
We need the help of parents/carers to cut down on unacceptable types of absence.
We realise that on some occasions there may be a particular problem that causes your child to be absent. Please let us know and we will deal with it sympathetically.
In cases of absence for any reason, please telephone the school by 9.00 a.m. on the first day of absence, and leave a message on our automated message system or with one of the south or north office team. When your child returns to school, please send in a written note explaining his/her absence. Any unexplained absences are indicated in the register as ‘unauthorised’.
A child arriving late after the register has closed should report to the main office on either site. If they are unaccompanied by an adult they should have a note explaining why they are late.
Attendance and absence is monitored by the school and the local authority. Frequent unauthorised absence may be referred to the Educational Welfare Officer who has responsibility to enforce school attendance, and will, if necessary, take court action. Legal proceedings may be brought in cases of irregular, unauthorised attendance defined as follows: