Attendance
It is through good attendance that pupils maximise their full potential, enhancing their life chances for the future. Missing school means missing out on learning and this can have an impact on a child’s development and attainment. There is a strong statistical link between attendance and attainment. Our attendance target is 96%.
The law states that children of statutory school age who are on roll at a school or academy must attend regularly and punctually. Regular attendance is important, because it is the best way of ensuring children make the most of the educational opportunities available to them.
Attendance Matters:
| = number of days absent | Approximate number of weeks | = number of lessons missed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90% | 19 Days | 4 Weeks | 114 Lessons |
| 85% | 29 Days | 6 Weeks | 174 Lessons |
| 80% | 38 Days | 8 Weeks | 228 Lessons |
Reporting your child as absent:
If your child is unwell or unable to attend school, please email: attendance@dunstableicknield.co.uk by 08:30 on each day of absence. Please state your child’s full name, year group and reason for absence .
If you would like to discuss this you can call the school office on 01582 663709 and select option 2 to speak to a member of staff by 9am. You will also still need to email to report the absence.
If you are having issues getting your child to school please contact us for advice and support.
You may find the following websites useful :
Attendance Policy (Scholars' Education Trust policies)
Central Bedfordshire School Fines
Requests for absence during term time:
It is school policy that absences are not authorised during term time. Approval will normally only be granted in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the Head Teacher. If your request for absence has not been authorised, this will be classified as an unauthorised absence and may lead to the Penalty Notice process.
By taking family holidays during the designated holiday periods, you will be supporting your child’s full school attendance, learning and development. There are 13 weeks of the year to take holidays out of term time. The Department of Education's guidance states: 'Generally, a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of recreation would not constitute an exceptional circumstance'.
To request a leave of absence during term time for your child, please complete the form below and return it to attendance@dunstableicknield.co.uk or hand it in to the school office.
