Attendance and Absence
Moment’s matter. Attendance counts. Every student. Every day.
Good attendance leads to good progress and achievement. Always aim for 100% attendance.
Attendance and Absence
We all know that good attendance matters and that regular school attendance maximises learning potential. Students who regularly attend school make better progress socially and academically. We want to give every young person the chance to be successful and good attendance is key to this.
Regular and prompt attendance forms the basis of our Attendance policy.
It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to make sure their child is punctual and attends school every day. We monitor all students’ attendance and punctuality closely every week.
The following document from the DfE provides guidance for both parents and the school about Working together to improve school attendance.
It is usually appropriate for parents and carers to send their children to school with mild respiratory illnesses. This would include general cold symptoms: a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat. If you are unsure if you should send your child to school please visit Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Holidays should only be taken during school holidays. Under DfE guidance, the Headteacher may only grant a leave of absence in exceptional circumstances.
Reporting an absence
If a student is unwell and cannot attend school we ask that a parent/carer inform the school and leave a message before 8:45am on each day of absence.
To do this parents/carers can either telephone the school on 01527 872375 and select option 1 to report an absence OR send an email to attendance@northbromsgrove.worcs.sch.uk By phone or email, please include the following information:
- Parent/carer's first name and surname
- Student's first name and surname
- Student's tutor group
- Nature of illness
- Approximately how long the illness may last
Punctuality
Students are expected to arrive at school on time and be ready for Roll call at 8.45 am. Click here for the Times of the school day Students should be punctual and go straight to their lessons. Persistent lateness and truancy will result in sanctions.
If a child arrives late they will be required to sign in at Attendance. Students arriving after 9.30 am without an acceptable reason will be marked as an unauthorised absence. 10 or more late marks could lead to a fixed penalty notice.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s attendance, please contact our attendance officer Mrs Hendry at rhe@northbromsgrove.worc.sch.uk
Appointments and signing out, illness and accidents, lunchtimes
Appointments and signing out: Any student who needs to leave the premises during the school day, for any reason, will need a letter from their parent/carer and must sign out at the main reception. We ask that medical appointments are ideally made outside school hours. However, if a student does need to leave school to attend a medical appointment they must bring in a note from their doctor/dentist or have an appointment card/text. Students should return to school as soon as possible after their appointment and must remember to sign in again.
Illness and Accidents: If a student feels unwell at break or lunchtime, they must see their Head of Year. If they feel unwell during a lesson, they must inform the member of staff in the first instance to see if we can manage their symptoms in school. If a student is unable to continue with their lessons, a parent/carer will be contacted by the Head of Year. Students should not contact parents/careers directly to be picked up before they have been offered assistance by staff in school. Whilst the school has a number of qualified first aiders who can deal with emergencies, we do not have a school nurse based on site. Students who report as ill will be assessed and where necessary parents/carers will be informed or an ambulance called. On no account should a student take it upon themselves to leave a lesson or the school premises without authorised permission from their parent and without following the correct signing out procedure.
Lunchtimes
All students are to remain on-site at lunchtime.
Fines
Under the national rules, all schools are required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons.
COVID Information
What to do if you've tested positive for COVID-19
The following guidance has been issued by the DfE :
Can my child go to school if they have Covid-19 symptoms?
As COVID-19 presents a low risk to children and young people, combined with high vaccination rates in the population, there are no longer specific rules relating to it in schools, colleges, childcare and other education settings.
Children and young people with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to go to school, college or childcare.
However, those who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend.
All children and young people with respiratory symptoms should be encouraged to cover their mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when coughing and/or sneezing and to wash their hands after using or disposing of tissues.
It can be difficult to know when to seek help if your child is unwell. If you are worried about your child, especially if they are aged under 2 years old, then you should seek medical help.
UKHSA guidance says that it is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
The UKHSA has also published public health guidance on living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
Click here for further NHS guidance on what to do if you have Covid-19
Click here for further information from the UK Health Security Agency
Click here for further reading on the DfE Guidance
Covid Catch-Up Strategy
Following the unprecedented disruption to the provision of education as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19), the following document outlines the North Bromsgrove High School & Sixth Form Covid Catch Up strategy.
covid catch up north bromsgrove high school.pdf