Attendance is taken seriously at Leigh Academy Snowfields and we always endeavour to support our students and families achieve 100% attendance.
Research shows that good school attendance impacts upon children’s success in learning. Good attendance helps children to achieve good results, helps them to fulfil their potential and gives them a chance of a better future. We are committed to this and therefore work hard to ensure that all of our children have the best possible attendance. We aim to see all our pupils with above 96% attendance.
Every day that your child is absent from school is an opportunity missed. Schools and parents / carers have a shared responsibility to ensure that children attend school regularly and on time.
Absence Procedures
If a student is absent from the academy, parents/carers should:
- Contact the academy as soon as possible on the first day of absence with an update every day if the absence is ongoing via:
- The dedicated telephone recording facility (main school telephone number- 01622 250050)
- The college info@ email address
- Text message to Bromcom or through the MCAS app
- Provide the academy with any supporting medical evidence if the absence is likely to continue.
- Unless advised by a medical practitioner the academy will not request 48 hours clear of symptoms such as sickness and diarrhoea if the student feels well enough to attend.
It is a parent/carer’s responsibility to contact the academy to inform of any absence to support the safeguarding and welfare of all students.
If a student is absent we will:
- Text or telephone to request information from parents/carers if we have not received a valid reason for the absence;
- Invite parents/carers into the academy to discuss the situation with the Attendance Officer/ Student Services Manager or a member of the Senior Leadership Team if the absences persist.
- Refer the matter to the Local Authority Attendance Service.
From September 2013 the Department for Education amended the Pupil Registration Regulations, removing the Principal’s ability to authorise leave of absence for the purpose of a family holiday.
Absence Considerations
An appropriate reason for your child’s absence includes being too unwell to attend school, please refer to the NHS guidance on ‘Is my child too ill for school?’. Please be aware, the guidance urges parents to send their child to school in the case of coughs, colds and sore throats.
It is also appropriate for a child to be absent due to religious observance, as well as other exceptional circumstances which have been given permission following a written request to the Principal (e.g. the funeral of a close family member).
From September 2013 the Department for Education amended the Pupil Registration Regulations, removing the Principal’s ability to authorise leave of absence for the purpose of a family holiday.
Medical evidence for absence relating to physical or mental health are required for every absence after the fifth day of absence in the academic year. Medical evidence can be any of the following: GP appointment card, photograph of a prescription, direct letter from the GP to the academy or a diagnosis letter. Please send any medical evidence to the relevant Student Services Managers mailbox.
Attendance Support
While regular attendance is a key building block for academic success, we recognise that emotional wellbeing and mental health can sometimes make coming to school feel like an uphill battle.
Where students are struggling with attendance due to mental health difficulties the academy can offer:
- Personalised Wellbeing Plan is a co-created self-care plan created with the student, family and academy which outlines further support needed for emotional wellbeing, these could include access to safe spaces, ‘soft landings’ and clear choices for when they are feeling overwhelmed.
- Academy-based emotional wellbeing support, this might include ELSA sessions, counselling, or bespoke EBSA support.
- Facilitate referrals to CAMHS/NELFT, School Nurse, SALUS Emotional Wellbeing service, and any other relevant external agency who can provide support.
- Provide supportive statements or letters for GPs or Specialists so young people are able to access appropriate medical support.
- Signpost to external support such as:
Further support around wellbeing can be found on this page of our website: https://leighacademysnowfields.org.uk/safeguarding/wellbeing-resources/
Reduced Timetables should be “temporary, time-limited” and be part of a “wider support, health care or reintegration plan” and include a “proposed end date” as outlined in Working Together to Improve School Attendance, 2024.
Leigh Academy Snowfields use two types of Reduced Timetables:
- Reintegration reduced timetables are used as part of a phased transition into the academy or after significant time away.
- Health reduced timetables where a health condition (following medical evidence being provided) limits full-time attendance.