Attendance at school
Did you know...
- children have the best chance of success if their school attendance is between 95 to 100 per cent
- there are 190 school.days in a year; this leaves 175 non-school days for short trips family holidays and routine appointments
- missing an average of one school day a week during the course of primary or secondary schooling means missing at least a whole year overall.
What is regular school attendance?
Why is it important for children to attend school regularly?
What does the law say about parental duty concerning children's education?
At what age do children have to start school and and when can they leave?
When is it okay for children to miss school?
Can parents authorise absences?
What legal and financial sanctions can parents face if their children miss school?
Who should parents talk to if their child is unhappy at school?
What rules apply to children in employment?
What is regular school attendance?
- attending school everyday unless there is a very good reason for absence
- getting to school on time
- being present at school for both morning and afternoon sessions.
Why is it important for children to attend school regularly?
Children who attend school regularly are more likely to
- keep up with school work
- develop good habits and important life skills
- maintain friendships
- gain better qualifications
- have access to a wider range of opportunities when they leave school
- stay away from harm.
What does the law say about parental duty concerning children's education?
- parents must make sure that their children receive efficient full time education in school or elsewhere
- once a child is registered at school, the parent must make sure that the child attends regularly
- parents should inform the school of the resons for any unavoidable absence on the first day
- parents may request term-time leave of absence only in special or exceptional circumstances; this should be made in writing to the head teacher giving as much notice as possible.
At what age do children have to start school and when can they leave?
Children must receive full-time education from the start of the school term after their fifth birthday until the end of June in the school year in which they turn 16.
When is it okay for children to miss school?
- during illness but not for minor complaints
- for religious observance
- for any other unavoidable cause.
Can parents authorise absences?
No, it is the head teacher that decides whether the reason for absence is acceptable.
What is unauthorised absence?
If the head teacher decides that the reason given for absence is unacceptable, the absence will remain unauthorised. Absences will usually be left unauthorised in the following situations:
- celebrating birthdays
- shopping
- helping out or looking after relatives at home
- family holidays
- where no explanation is given.
What legal and financial sanctions can parents face if their children miss school?
- prosecution in a Magistrates' Court
- an Education Supervision Order issued by a Family Court
- fixed-penalty notices to the amount of £100 each, reduced to £50 each if paid within 28 days.
Who should parents talk to if their child is unhappy at school?
Seek help from the school staff as early as possible. Each primary school has an allocated Education Welfare Officer, who will also be able to help.
What rules apply to children in employment?
- children aged 13 years or over can work in limited conditions providing they have a work permit from their local authority
- no child may do paid work during school hours
- older school children who take part in work-related learning arranged by the school cannot be paid.
Children, young people and families
Email this pageLast modified by: Ferzana Arif on 30/03/2011