Attendance
At Highfields Primary Academy, excellent attendance is essential to ensuring every child achieves their full potential. Children who attend school regularly are happier, more confident, and make better progress in their learning.
Our whole-school attendance target is at least 97%, and we work closely with families to achieve this.
Why Good Attendance Matters
Every school day counts. Even small amounts of absence can have a significant impact on a child’s learning, wellbeing, and future opportunities. Regular attendance helps children:
- Build strong routines and friendships
- Keep up with learning and class activities
- Develop positive attitudes to school and learning
We are committed to being firm, fair, and supportive in promoting good attendance for all pupils.
Working in Partnership with Parents and Carers
Attendance is a shared responsibility between home and school. While we work hard to make school enjoyable and engaging, children’s attendance is largely influenced by parents and carers.
We:
- Monitor attendance closely
- Communicate regularly with families
- Offer early support where attendance begins to fall
- Use positive strategies and rewards to encourage excellent attendance
Where concerns arise, parents and carers are involved from the very beginning.
Attendance Rewards
We actively celebrate good attendance, including:
- A weekly Attendance Trophy for the class with the highest attendance
- Attendance updates shared in newsletters
- Half-termly certificates for 100% attendance
- A celebratory reward for pupils achieving 100% attendance across the school year
Types of Absence
Authorised Absence
Only the academy can authorise absences. Authorised reasons may include:
- Illness
- Urgent medical or dental appointments (evidence required)
- Religious observance
- Bereavement of a close relative
- Exceptional circumstances agreed in advance by the Head of Academy
Routine appointments should be made outside school hours wherever possible.
Unauthorised Absence
Absences will be unauthorised if there is no valid reason or no permission from the school. This includes:
- Holidays during term time
- Unexplained absence
- Non-urgent medical appointments
- Birthdays, weddings, or family events
- Transport issues
- Caring for siblings or relatives
Frequent short illnesses may also be recorded as unauthorised if a pattern develops.
Punctuality
School gates open at 8:25 am and close at 8:30 am.
- Arrival after 8:40 am is recorded as late
- Arrival after 9:20 am is recorded as unauthorised absence
Persistent lateness significantly affects learning time and attendance figures.
Persistent Absence
Attendance below 90% is classed as persistent absence.
- Support strategies begin when attendance falls below 95%
- Formal action may be taken if attendance does not improve
- This can include meetings, warning letters, and fines
Our aim is always to work with families early to prevent attendance issues escalating.
First Day Absence and Home Visits
Parents/carers must contact school by 8:15am on the first day of absence.
If we do not receive contact:
- The Attendance Officer will attempt to reach all listed contacts
- A home visit may be carried out to ensure the child is safe
Home visits may also occur for ongoing absence or safeguarding concerns.
Holidays During Term Time
Holidays in term time will not be authorised unless there are very exceptional circumstances.
- Requests must be submitted at least 4 weeks in advance
- Holidays should not be booked before approval is given
- Unauthorised holidays will result in a Fixed Penalty Notice
Fines may increase for repeat offences and serious cases may be referred to Magistrates’ Court.
Children Missing Education and Safeguarding
We follow Department for Education guidance for Children Missing Education and work closely with external agencies to safeguard pupils and families.
This includes liaison with:
- Education services
- Children’s Social Care
- Health services
- Police, where necessary
Leave of absence form
Following recent government legislation changes the Academy no longer authorises holidays during term time, unless there are exceptional circumstances. No term time holiday will be authorised as your child’s continued attendance at school is important for their education. However, if you are taking your child out of school this form MUST be completed.
This written request will be responded to in writing by the Principal. Please note – authorisation of term time absence is extremely rare.
If the Academy does not authorise the absence it will always notify the Education Welfare Service.
You can download more information from the local authority website: https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/schools/holidays-during-term-time
