Russell Lower School recognises that positive behaviour and good attendance are essential in order for pupils to get the most of their school experience, including their attainment, wellbeing and wider life chances. We believe that in order to facilitate teaching and learning, good attendance is essential. Pupils cannot achieve their full potential if they do not regularly attend school.  Missing out on lessons leaves children very vulnerable to falling behind. Children with poor attendance tend to achieve less through their education.

We take a whole-school approach to securing good attendance and recognise the impact that our efforts in other areas – such as the curriculum, behaviour standards, bullying, SEND support, pastoral support, safeguarding and the effective use of resources such as pupil premium – can have on improving pupil attendance.

For our children to gain the greatest benefit from their education it is vital that they attend regularly and be at school, on time, every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable. It is a rule of this school that pupils must attend every day, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The name and contact details of the Senior Attendance Champion – the senior leader responsible for the strategic approach to attendance in our school, is:

Louise Bunney

louisebunney@russell-lower.co.uk 

The name and contact details of the school staff member pupils and parents should contact about attendance on a day-to-day basis is:

Colette Davies

pupilabsence@russell-lower.co.uk  01525 755664

Pupils and parents should contact their class teacher, Phase Leader, Inclusion Lead or Deputy Head for more individual support with attendance via:

classname@russell-lower.c.uk

send@russell-lower.co.uk

louisebunney@russell-lower.co.uk

Attendance is mandatory. 

The usual rules on attendance continue to apply including:

• parents’ duty to ensure that their child of compulsory school age attends regularly at the school where the child is a registered pupil
• schools’ responsibilities to record attendance and follow up absence
• the ability to issue sanctions, including fixed penalty notices, in line with local authorities’ codes of conduct
• the duty on local authorities to put in place arrangements for identifying, and to follow up with, children missing education

19th August 2024: Our attendacy policy has recently been updated due to the new statutory guidance 'working together to improve school attendance' . Please see the final policy below. 

If you would like to request a leave of absence this can be done via our updated form on the relevant tab.

From the 19th August 2024, the following will apply:

Following guidance from the Local Authority (LA) and Central Government, the following outline the National regulations regarding term time leave of absence.

The regulations state that no term time leave of absence should be granted except in ‘...exceptional circumstances...’

‘..exceptional circumstances..’ are being defined as, for example, a serving member of HM forces returning from overseas on leave and wishing to take the family on a short break. Family weddings and holidays with family members etc. would not fall into this category.

Per Parent/Per Child Penalty Notices

Penalty Notices for absences will be issued per child, per parent. This means that if multiple siblings are absent during term time and the absences are unauthorised by the school, each parent will receive a separate fine for each child’s absence. Penalty Notices will be issued by the local authority, and the payment will be made directly to them. 

First Offence Penalties

The first penalty notice issued to each parent in respect of a particular pupil will be charged at £160.00 if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80 per parent if paid within 21 days.

Second Offence (within 3 years)

A second penalty notice issued to the same parent in respect of the same pupil is charged at a flat rate of £160.00 per parent if paid within 28 days.

Third Offence and any further offences (within 3 years)

A third penalty notice cannot be issued to the same parent in respect of the same child within 3 years of the date of issue of the first penalty notice. In a case where the national threshold is met for a third time (or subsequent times) within those 3 years, alternative action will be taken instead. This will often include considering prosecution but may include other tools such as one of the other attendance legal interventions.

10 Sessions (5 days) of Unauthorised Absence in a 10-week period

Penalty Notice Fines will be considered when there have been 10 sessions (which is the same as 5 days) of unauthorised absence in a 10-week period.

Term time leave of absence will NOT be granted for holidays or family weddings etc. unless there are exceptional circumstances

School days are precious; children only attend school 190 out of 365 days. There are 175 days a year which parents can use for any activities other than school.