Attendance and Absence Reporting

At Alton Close, we expect all pupils to attend regularly to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. Regular school attendance and educational attainment are inextricably linked. This includes being in school on time every day.

If your child is absent from school without any explanation, our Attendance Officer will contact you:

• First via a text message
• Secondly via email
• Thirdly with a home visit

If your child has persistent unauthoriesd absence above 10% you could be a risk of an absence enquiry request being sent to the Local Authority. Following review of the evidence presented, a decision could be made to issue a fixed penalty notice (FPN). Unpaid FPNs could lead to a review by education welfare service in consultation with legal to ensure an appropriate outcome is found.

We will provide regular reminders if your child’s attendance shows concern. You can view your child’s attendance using EPRAISE. Our Attendance Officer will offer support through regular meetings, and we provide Attendance Drop-in sessions throughout the year.

To report a pupil's absence, please send an EPRAISE message to Alton Close Admin, providing the name of your child and their class and year group, with a reason for the absence. Only the school, within the context of the law, can approve absence. Parents cannot approve absence.

Parents do not have the right to take their child out of school during term time for holidays, and the academy does not have to authorise such absences.