The information below explains your child's attendance sheet....

Example Attendance Sheet

• Each day is split into two “openings” – for us that is registration and the beginning of period 5 (2pm).  So every day counts as 2 openings (except a Friday, which is why every Friday afternoon is marked as “H” meaning “closed”).
   
• The numbers in the last 3 columns are cumulative i.e. they reflect the number of absences in the week PLUS the number in the week before for each category.  So, on this report the pupil was absent on the afternoon of 4th November i.e. one “opening” absence for that week and then absent on the afternoon of the 15th November (another “opening” absence), giving a cumulative total to the end of that week of 2 absences.  The pupil has not been absent since, so the number in the “Unauthorised” column will stay at 2 until there is a subsequent absence.
   
• An “Unauthorised” absence remains marked as such until it can be confirmed as falling into one of the following categories:
  • Sickness
  • Medical and dental treatment
  • Bereavement
  • Short-term exceptional domestic circumstances
  • Religious observance
  • Meetings prior to and in court
  • Attendance at or in connection with a Children’s Hearing or Care Review
  • Weddings of immediate family
  • Agreed debates, sports, musical or theatrical productions not arranged by or in conjunction with the school
  • Sanctioned extended absence in relation to children of travelling families.

Therefore it is really important that parents and carers send in notes following an absence from school.  If you do not send in a note, the absence will remain “Unauthorised” and will affect the attendance record that can be asked for by colleges and prospective employers.

S Ingham
February 2011