IMPORTANT: National Changes to Attendance & Fixed Penalty Notices (Essential Reading)

As part of the Government focus on improving school attendance, from 19th August and therefore in action from the beginning of the 2024-25 Academic Year, there are a number of changes to the guidance on attendance set by the Government. As a result of this, the Local Authority have updated their attendance guidance.

It is extremely important that parents read the two documents regarding these changes that are below to understand how this will impact families.

As Millfield is a Hertfordshire County Council School (HCC), we follow the guidance set out by HCC and consider each application for a leave of absence based on individual circumstances of a family. Where an absence is not deemed as an exceptional circumstance, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and this may lead to a Penalty Notice Fine being issued by HCC.

Please see the 'Helping Parents understand Penalty Notice Fines for School Attendance' information sheet for more information:

Weekly Class Attendance:

*Note: Attendance period covers from a Friday through to a Thursday.

Termly Attendance 

Summer Term attendance for 2023-24 for Reception, KS1 and KS2 was 93.7%.

Well done to Willow Class, who were the winners for the Summer Term attendance with 95.5%.

Termly Class Attendance:

Yearly Attendance

Yearly attendance for 2023-24 for Reception, KS1 and KS2 was 94.38%.

Well done to Willow Class, who were the winners for yearly attendance with 95.7%.

The Importance of School Attendance

We want our children at Millfield School to enjoy coming to school. Our weekly attendance target is 96%, but we strive for 100%.

Research has proven that there is a high correlation between school attendance and academic performance and success.

Absence from school is often the greatest single cause of poor performance and achievement.

Good Attendance

Having a good education will help to give your child the best possible start in life. We believe that children who do not attend school regularly are more likely to:-

• Fall behind in their school work.
• Find it difficult to make and keep friends.
• Be unhappy at school. 

Why is it so important to attend every day?

• Learning is a progressive activity; each day’s lessons build upon those of the previous day(s).
• Lessons include discussions and hand on experiences which cannot be made up by those who are absent.

Are there other benefits to my child? 

• Children with good attendance records generally achieve higher grades and enjoy school more.
• Having a good education will help to give your child the best possible start in life.
• Regular school attendance patterns encourage the development of other responsible patterns of behaviour.
• Attending school every day helps children develop social skills and develop friendships with their peers.

What are the risks of frequent absences?

• A child who does not attend school regularly will be unlikely to keep up with the work.
• The more children miss school, the lower their grades; the lower their grades, the less they want to stay in school.

What can parents do to help?

• Parents must model the value of education, including the importance of regular attendance.
• Make sure that your child goes to school regularly and arrives on time. This establishes a good habit that they will carry through life.
• Do not expect school to approve of shopping trips, birthday treats etc. during school hours. Arrange family holidays so that your child will not miss any learning.
• Take an interest in your child’s school work and be involved in the school as much as possible, your child will value school more if you do.

Leave of Absence in Term Time:

Headteachers are no longer able to grant leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances such as a wedding of a parent, funeral of a close relative or a national sporting activity. 

A letter to the headteacher requesting a leave of absence must be made in advance. A leave of absence is granted entirely at the headteacher’s discretion. As stated in the most recent DFE guidance on attendance, if an application for leave of absence is not made prior to the time of the required absence then the absence will be recorded as unauthorised regardless of circumstances.

Penalty Notice:

A penalty notice is a fine issued to parents or carers who fail to ensure their child/children attend school regularly. If your child accrues more than 7 days unauthorised absence, parents could be issued a penalty notice. This includes taking holidays in term time without the schools permission.

Penalty fines are £60.00 per child per parent if paid within 21 days, and £120 if paid between 22 and 28 days. If the fine is not paid, parents will be reported for prosecution.

Remember:

EVERY SCHOOL DAY COUNTS.

Regular attendance is necessary for success in school. Help ensure that your child has the best opportunity for success by making sure he/she is in school every day

Punctuality - Arriving at School on time

There is a clear link between attendance and attainment; the more time a pupil spends in school the more likely they are to improve their opportunity to fulfil their full potential.

The Law states that:

A school has to take a register of all pupils first thing in the morning and sometime during the afternoon. The Government advice states that schools can keep the register open for up to 30 minutes, however this may be for a shorter period. If a pupil arrives late to school but whilst the register is still open they are marked as late. If a pupil arrives at school after the register is closed, without a satisfactory reason, this may be classed as an unauthorised absence and may lead to prosecution for not ensuring your child has regular /punctual school attendance.

Being frequently late for school adds up to lost learning:

• Arriving 5 minutes late every day adds up to over 3 days lost each year.
• Arriving 15 minutes late every day is the same as being absent for 9 days a year.
• Arriving 30 minutes late every day is the same as being absent for 18 days a year.

 If your child attends school they are more likely to succeed

BUT REMEMBER – “IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE LATE THAN NOT TO ARRIVE AT ALL”.

Some things that help punctuality:

• Help your child get everything ready the night before (e.g. PE kit, school uniform)
• Allowing plenty of time to get to school
• Make arrangements with neighbours, family or friends if you have problems getting your child to school.
• Make sure your child has breakfast or arrives at school in time for breakfast club.
• Help your child organise homework.
• Establish a good bedtime routine
• Make sure your child gets enough rest and is not distracted by too much time on the computer or watching TV.
• Setting an alarm clock! 

What should you do if your have a problem getting your child to school on time?

• Talk to your child first.
• Talk to your child’s teacher.
• Ask for help from someone you feel you can talk to in school.

Click on the link below to read our Attendance Policy.