We expect your child to be in school every day. There is a clear correlation between achievement and attendance, and we want to work with you to ensure our pupils reach their full potential. Every day really does count:

“Twenty days off per school year means that a child has about 90 per cent attendance and will probably obtain a grade lower than they are capable of”(DfE).

The following interventions are available if attendance falls below the National Average of 95%:

• Letters, texts, and phone calls home
• Meetings with parents and student
• Offer individual support if attendance isn’t improving
• Home visits
• Offer Early Help
• Meeting with Attendance Manager. Attendance Officer or a member of SLT.
• Astar Attendance Stages, 1,2,3 and 4
• Astar Attendance stage 4: Referral to the Local Authority for a fine and/or prosecution.

How you can help:

• Contact school daily to report an absence 
• If your child has a medical appointment, please ensure they don’t have the whole day off and come into school before and after where possible.
• Communicate with the school if there are any issues at home we can support you with or that may be affecting attendance
• Bring in medical evidence e.g. a prescription, appointment card, hospital letter. Whether the absence is authorised is dependent on their attendance record and the discretion of the Attendance Team.
• Only take your child on holiday during the allocated school breaks (which is 13 weeks per year) Fines may be issued if holidays are taken during school time.

As you are aware competition for both college places and job opportunities are fierce and good grades at GCSE can provide a stepping stone for your child’s future. The foundations of good attendance are habits which are developed at the beginning of a child’s educational journey.

We hope we can work together to ensure your child receives the very best opportunities and to do this to ensure your child reaches their full potential.

Our attendance policy can be viewed via our policies webpage: http://washingtonacademy.ovw9.devwebsite.co.uk/page/?title=Policies&pid=27