Attendance Leaflet 2017 18

TERM DATES 2017/18

PASTORAL INFORMATION

Secondary Phase

TERM

STARTS

ENDS

AUTUMN

04/09/17

20/12/17

If you require any further information on Attendance at Simon Balle All–through School, please contact your child’s Form Tutor

Simon Balle

HALF TERM: Monday 23rd – Friday 27th October

SPRING

04/02/18

29/03/18

HALF TERM: Monday 12th – Friday 16th February

SUMMER

16/04/18

20/07/18

HALF TERM : Monday 28th May – Friday 1st June

Open Morning: Saturday 23 September 2017

All contact information can be found on the Pastoral Structure page of the school website: http://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/pastoralstructure/

All-through School ATTENDANCE

Or via the ‘SBAS Community’ tab

Information for

ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND

Autumn Term INSET DAY: Monday 25th September

* Wellbeing & Attendance Coordinator Ms Moss

Occasional Day : Friday 24th November Occasional Day : Monday 27th November

Spring Term

mossd@simonballe.herts.sch.uk * Assistant Head in charge of Attendance

INSET DAY: Friday 9th February

Mr Pooley

(Easter Weekend: Friday 30th March – Monday 2nd April)

pooleyj@simonballe.herts.sch.uk

Summer Term May Bank Holiday: Monday 7th May

Parents 2017/18

The aim of this leaflet is to outline the importance of regular attendance at school in order to emphasise the impact it can have on your child’s academic progress. Research

How do I register an absence?

For unplanned absence: Telephone the school on 01992 410400 before 8.15am and leave a message including: your child’s name, form group and the reason for absence.

indicates that there is a direct link between poor attendance and poor achievement. Here at Simon Balle we have a minimum target of

For absence known in advance: Please send an email to the school office admin@simonballe.herts.sch.uk with the time/date(s) your child will be absent and the reason for

97% attendance for every child.

the absence. The school should be advised of any medical

A student who has 90% attendance misses

condition. A doctor’s certificate may be requested if it

almost 4 weeks of school every year. That’s

affects your child’s long term attendance.

over 100 hours of learning. If young people do not

attend

school

regularly,

they

My child needs a medical appointment, what should I do?

will

experience difficulty in keeping up with their

Appointments should be made out of school hours, wher-

studies.

ever possible. If this is not possible, we expect all students to return to school after medical appointments, where

Visit the attendance section on the school

practical. Medical Authorisation Forms are for proof of

website to learn more about the link between

recurring medical appointments and can be obtained from

absence and attainment.

your child’s Form Teacher or the school reception. You may

In addition to this, they also miss out on the many activities and opportunities that we offer at Simon Balle that support the curriculum and nurture their growth into

also print one from the link available on our school website in the Attendance section.

If my child is late for school, what should they do?

Registration starts at 8.45am in Lesson 1. If your child ar-

young adults. This can have ramifications as

rives after this time they MUST SIGN IN AT THE MAIN RE-

students who do not attend school regularly

CEPTION. Persistent lateness will not be tolerated and sanc-

are at a greater risk of becoming involved in

tions will be issued. Repeat offenders will be required to

crime or becoming a victim of abuse.

meet with the Attendance Panel.

What can parents do to help?

It is important that you inform us of any medical or emotional issues that may be affecting your child’s attendance, to enable us to offer appropriate support. It is also important that your son or daughter understands that you are working with the school to ensure that there are no barriers to learning and that you do not condone absence. Please work with us to endorse the school’s rules on punctuality, attendance and dress code with your child.

HOLIDAYS TAKEN IN TERM TIME WILL NOT BE AUTHORISED AND SHOULD NOT BE BOOKED

BY PARENTS/CARERS/RELATIVES The Government and School Governors recommendation is that you do not take your child out of school for holidays therefore, no holidays will be authorised by school. Penalty Notices were introduced under section 23(1) of the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 to address unauthorised absences from school. It is a fine issued by Herts County Council to parents/carers of a child who has failed to attend school regularly and whose absence is unauthorised.

In extreme cases students and parents will be invited to attend an attendance panel meeting and if no improvement made it will be passed on the County to the Attendance team to take on the case.