Skip to content ↓

Oakley Vale Primary school

Attendance

As a Brooke Weston Trust Academy we expect good attendance to ensure that all pupils are able to take full advantage of the education available to them.

Good attendance matters. Pupils who have good attendance:

  • Get better jobs in the future
  • Achieve better results
  • Make better friendships
  • Have good self-esteem and confidence

Here at Oakley Vale, we strive for every child to achieve 96% attendance or higher.

Reporting absence

Should your child be absent from school, it is a parent’s responsibility to notify school by 8.30am via the absence line (01536 461199).  School must be notified on each day of your child’s absence. 

Home visits

Parents and carers should be aware that home visits are completed by all Brooke Weston Trust schools as a standard procedure when we have not received any contact or explanation for a child's absence and when children are absent from school for 3 days or more. Should the Wellbeing Team have any safeguarding concerns for a particular child, or if the child’s attendance is a concern, home visits will be completed to these families in the first instance. Home visits allow school staff to see the child and discuss the absence with parents and carers, as well as being able to offer support if required.  

Punctuality

The school day runs from 8:50am to 3:30pm.  

Parents have a legal responsibility to ensure that their child is not late for school. This can be extremely disruptive to a child’s daily routine and also mean that they miss a considerable amount of valuable learning time. 

Should your child be arriving late to school, it is imperative that they enter school via our Main Reception in order to be signed in. If your child is late due to attending an appointment, we ask that medical evidence is provided to support this. 

The Wellbeing Team regularly monitor children’s punctuality and if a child is identified as being persistently late, parents will be invited to a meeting to discuss this and a target will be set to reduce lateness.

Leave during Term time

Should parents or carers be taking their child out of school during term time, they are required to complete a leave during term time form prior to the absence commencing, notifying of the duration of leave and reason for absence. Forms can be collected from our Main Reception or from your child's teacher. 

Brooke Weston Trust Academies and the Local Authority are continuing to work together to reduce the amount of leave taken in term time by issuing Penalty Notices under Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996 (amended regulations 2013). 

Parents need to be aware that as of Monday 25 April 2016, NCC changed their Code of Conduct which meant a Penalty Notice could be issued for 5 days of absence (10 sessions). This was placed on hold while the Isle of Wight case was heard. As the outcome is now known, Northants County Council implemented the Code of Conduct with immediate effect. 

There is clear evidence that any absence can and will have an impact on attainment. With this in mind, periods of leave taken during term time will not be authorised. Referrals will be made to the Education Inclusion Partnership Team for 5 days of absence of more where consideration will be given to issue a penalty notice. 

Attendance Awards

Awards are given for good attendance during and at the end of the year. These are valued by the children and they appreciate their parents' support in qualifying for them.

Parents can help their child reach the attendance awards through:

  • Ensuring their child attends every day and is on time, in line with their legal obligations
  • Only booking holidays in academy holiday times and avoiding any fines
  • Making dental appointments outside of academy hours
  • Notifying the academy by 8.30am on the first day of any illness absence (the academy will follow up any uninformed absence and take any safeguarding action necessary).

 

BWT Primary Attendance Strategy

Attendance Matters leaflet

Primary Attendance strategy