Attendance / Absence / Late Procedures

School Attendance – Working Together to Improve Attendance

We are committed to supporting every pupil to attend school regularly and to benefit fully from their education.

We work in partnership with pupils, parents and carers, recognising that good attendance is essential for pupils’ learning, wellbeing, progress and wider development. Where attendance becomes a concern, we will work with families to understand the reasons for absence and provide appropriate support.

Our approach follows the Department for Education’s statutory guidance “Working together to improve school attendance”, which applies to schools in England and was most recently updated in July 2026.

Parents and carers have a legal responsibility to ensure that their children attend school regularly. We ask families to support the school by:

• ensuring their child arrives at school on time and attends every day unless absence is unavoidable;
• informing the school promptly when their child is absent and providing the reason;
• arranging routine medical and dental appointments outside school hours wherever possible; and
• working with the school if attendance becomes a concern.

We will monitor attendance carefully, identify concerns at an early stage and work with families to remove barriers to regular attendance. Where appropriate, further action may be taken in accordance with statutory guidance.

Our aim is to ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to attend regularly, achieve their potential and enjoy the benefits of being part of our school community.

Our attendance policy is available on the school website and reflects the current Department for Education statutory guidance.

Department for Education: Working together to improve school attendance

Where there are concerns over attendance – whether the absences are consecutive or there are ‘broken weeks’ - school will request a meeting with parents/carers.

When agreed attendance levels fall below expected levels, the school may make a referral to the BCP School Attendance Worker. The Education Welfare Service work with parents/carers to address their child/s attendance difficulties. If, after planned work, unauthorised absences are still a concern, the Local Authority has a duty to consider legal action which may result in prosecution or the issuing of fines. 

Impact of need on attendance

We understand, particularly in a school such as ours, that illnesses and hospital appointments are sometimes unavoidable and can have a huge impact on a pupil’s attendance capabilities. It is important, when these circumstances arise, that parents/carers maintain good communication with the school in order that we can support and advise them in the best way possible.

We also understand that some pupils who have complex medical needs may need a shorter day or a shorter week. School will only agree such modifications to their timetable if they are supported with a doctor’s letter. The school reserves the right to request a new letter every year, or if a child’s medical status improves.

Some pupils who have severe sensory needs which affect their ability to participate effectively in a whole school day – for example those who struggle with ‘transitions’ or change may benefit from a modified start or finish time. However, this must be by mutual agreement between home and school, and it must be something that is reviewed on a regular basis. In this way school hopes to optimise learning through recognising individual needs. The school will ensure that the Schools Attendance Worker is aware of ‘bespoke’ arrangements.

Lateness after the Register has Closed

Our daily school registration closes at 9.30am and 1.45pm. Arrivals between 9.15-9.30am and 1.15-1.30pm will be recorded as 'Unauthorised Lates. Any arrivals after this time will be recorded as ‘Absent’. More than 5 late arrivals within 6 weeks (these do not need to be consecutive) may result in a request to attend an attendance meeting.

Absence from School

If a pupil is unwell, parents/carers should ring the school before 8.00am. 

If you do not contact us we will ring or text you during the morning to find out why your child is not in school. We may need to record the absence as unauthorised if the reason is not considered acceptable.

A Medial Appointment Request leave of absence request form should be completed if your child needs to attend an appointment in school times. As much notice as possible, with supporting documentation is required.

Request for leave of absence in term time due to exceptional circumstances

Parents and carers should ensure that children attend school regularly and avoid taking holidays during term time.

Under the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024, leave of absence during term time may only be granted where the school considers that exceptional circumstances apply. Each request will be considered individually, taking into account the specific circumstances and relevant background.

A family holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure or recreation is not normally considered an exceptional circumstance. Parents and carers should therefore not assume that a request for leave of absence will be approved.

What amounts to exceptional Circumstances is to be decided by the Head Teacher.

Generally, The Department of Education does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance.

Leave of absence request forms are available from the school office.

Parents/carers will be notified of the Head Teacher’s decision at the earliest opportunity.

If the circumstances are not considered to be exceptional then parents/carers will be informed of this.

If a parent/carer takes their child out of school without permission the absence will be recorded as an unauthorised leave of absence, which may result in a request being made to the Local Education Authority to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice.

It is important for parents/carers to note that once school have requested that the Local Authority issue a Fixed Penalty Notice for a period of unauthorised leave in term time, you will not have an opportunity to discuss this matter further with the Local Authority. Any queries or discussions should be had prior to, or at the time of requesting the leave.

Parents/carers are advised not to make any arrangements until their request has been considered.

Montacute Attendance Policy

Our full attendance policy can be found on this website under the Key Information tab.

Montacute School : School Attendance Monitoring Process