Attendance & holidays In term time

Request for Leave from School for Holidays

Your child's attendance at Bevendean Primary School is very important.  If your child is missing lessons, this could affect their learning in the following ways:

  • Affects pupil’s attainment.
  • Pupils suffer a break in the continuity of their learning or miss important topics.
  • Pupils lack confidence due to the fact that they have missed mid-topic information and are unable to understand or catch up – much of the work missed is never made up, which puts pupils at a disadvantage at exam time.
  • Your child’s results and progress suffers when they are not in school
  • Disruption to your child’s learning, friendships and social development.

Can a parent take their child on holiday during term time?

Head teachers should only authorise leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. If a head teacher grants a leave request, it will be for the head teacher to determine the length of time that the child can be away from school. Leave is unlikely, however, to be granted for the purposes of a family holiday as a norm.  Parents and carers need to get the Headteacher’s permission before a holiday is taken during term time. If the Head teacher doesn’t agree to the request, the absence will be considered unauthorised.

 

Miss School Miss Out

Visit the Council's webpage for more information: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/children-and-education/schools/miss-school-miss-out

A few small changes can make a difference.  Routine is the key to success.

At home, routine is the key to making simple changes for success and here is a six point plan to try with the family:

Going to school unprepared can be a major worry for children - help by checking schoolbags the night before, packing P.E. bags and keeping an eye on homework progress.

 

  • Tired children aren't punctual and find it hard to learn, so ensure your child has a sensible bedtime.
  • Help your children get into a regular routine and set the alarm at the same time every morning.
  • Make time for breakfast so there are no shop stops where children can get side-tracked on the way to school.  A nutritious breakfast also fuels more effective learning.
  • Children can become unsettled if they have to go into school late and without their friends - getting children to school in time to meet friends in the yard prevents this.
  • Have a memory board at home for special trips or activities - the board will help your children remember to tell you and help you remember to prepare them for it.

 

School absence, which might at first be relatively infrequent, can rapidly build up. Try to clamp down even on occasional absence; show your child that attending school is a priority, and is key to their future success.

 

 Get to know your child’s teacher and headteacher – communicating problems is the first step to solving them.

 

 Fixed penalty notices can be requested for:

  • Persistent late arrival at school (after the register has closed). (6 sessions within a period of 6 school weeks)
  • Pupils whose attendance has not reached a satisfactory level during a 6 week period following intensive support.
  • Where parents allow their child to be present in a public place during school hours without reasonable justification in a fixed term or permanent exclusion.
  • 6 or more sessions of unauthorised absence within a term.(O coded)
  • All unauthorised holidays taken during term time. As agreed with schools the recommendation is that this is for any unauthorised leave of six sessions or more.
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Eco-Schools Silver Award
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OFSTED Good