Please contact school via Class Charts on the first day of absence by 8.30am to provide a reason for absence. You will also need to contact the school each day of absence until your child returns. If you do not make contact, your child’s absence will be recorded as unauthorised, and we are responsible for deciding if the absence is acceptable or not. How to report a student absence using ClassCharts If you need to report a student absence, please scroll across to the 'Absences' tab on banner menu of the Class Charts website or app. ​ To report an absence: ​ STEP 1. Click on the 'Report New Absence' button. ​ STEP 2. Enter the details of the reported absence into the form provided. ​ You can also include up to 5 files in your absence report as supporting evidence. ​ To do this, click on the Attach supporting evidence button and select the files of your choice. ​ STEP 3. Click on the Submit button to send your pupil’s absence report to school. ​ Once the absence is received by school, you will will receive a message from our admin team. Please click here for a handy guide on how to report absence using the Class Charts parent app (https://f763b480-1d26-4273-8f30-1d30b364eab9.usrfiles.com/ugd/0f8c60_c23d456d55034ff9bb30bbdb40ed1fd1.pdf)

Request leave of absence in term time for exceptional circumstance by following the School Student Leave of Absence In Term Time Policy(https://www.saintspeterandpaul.halton.sch.uk/_files/ugd/0f8c60_105dde8583db450196660f6fd975afd4.pdf) Where absence is unavoidable, the School is very happy to ensure that work is provided so that our student's do not fall behind in their progress. Click here to request a student Leave of Absence (https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=zB3xRBEcC0ixg2x0AjpLdcInIH-_byREu4ecbIGEon1UN083TlZBNzFRTzZVNUVaRzg0NUk2UkVLSi4u)

· Please ensure this form is completed at least 1 month prior to requesting leave. Completing this form does not mean your request has been approved. · The Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2024 states that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time. · If your leave of absence request is not approved, then the absence will be marked as ‘unauthorised’ on the attendance register. · For such ‘unauthorised’ absence, you may be liable to be issued with a penalty notice (fine). The fine is £80 per parent per child if paid within 21 days, increasing to £160 per parent per child if paid between 21 and 28 days. If one or both parents fail to pay the penalty notice in full, then you may be prosecuted. The school also reserves the right to remove your child from the roll of the school. Where this happens, please be aware that it may not always be possible to re-admit your child to the school. Exceptional Circumstances: In considering whether any ‘exceptional circumstances’ apply, the Principal / Headteacher will consider if the reasons are rare, significant, unavoidable, and short. The Principal / Headteacher will also take into consideration the factors listed below: o can the event for which the absence requested can be reasonably taken during school holidays? o levels of attendance and unauthorised absence over the last 12 months o any leave of absence taken previously o whether the leave is during the exam period, controlled exam periods or will result in not meeting assessment deadlines o age and year group of the pupil

Missing lessons leaves students vulnerable to falling behind, creating gaps in their learning, and lowering their self-confidence. If a learner does not attend school, or is not taking part in an approved educational activity, they are classed as ABSENT from school. This means that if your child is off school for any reason, even if they are ill or have medical permission to be off school, they are classed as ABSENT. Please note, that if an absence is authorised attendance % is still affected. Good attendance has a direct relationship with effective learning and good academic progress. Research shows that the higher the attendance of a student, the higher their GCSE grades are at the end of Year 11. Attendance above 95% every year in School equals one grade difference across all GCSE grades and increases the chances of students achieving a grade 4 or higher in English and Maths. Students with less than 95% attendance are less likely to achieve those important GCSE grades. Additionally, setting high expectations is also useful preparation for each student's life beyond school and the important skill of reliability which all settings require. Analysis of Year 11 students' GCSE results from 2022, shows that those with 99+% attendance achieved an average of 1.6 grades higher in each subject than the minimum grade expected by the Department for Education. Those with 97-95% attendance achieved 1 whole grade higher than the minimum expected for their ability. Although 80%-93% might sound a very high figure in other circumstances it is not acceptable for attendance. Less than 94% has a proven negative impact academically and socially. FFT ASPIRE DATA FOR ENGLISH AND MATHS https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0f8c60_ed9f4b62ad644a7089af53e27bd9df5f~mv2.png Impact on mental health Hindering development of relationships Missing out on enrichment Click here to find out more about why school attendance is important and what support is available from the Department for Education (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67c96d7dd0fba2f1334cf2ed/The_link_between_attendance_and_attainment_in_an_assessment_year_-_March_2025.pdf)

It is up to you to decide if your child is too ill to attend school. The NHS have useful guidance to help you decide whether your child needs to stay off school due to sickness. (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/) https://static.wixstatic.com/media/70a8d4_d771c66e406c4becb66e9a923568825c~mv2.png We often seen a number of pupils who come to school feeling under the weather or ‘a bit sick’. The majority of these pupils improve during the day and have no problems as a result of attending, so it’s often worth encouraging them to give school ‘a try’ if you feel they can manage it.

If your child is too ill to attend school, we record these absences as authorised and in the majority of cases medical evidence is not needed. If your child’s absence exceeds 5 days (10 school day sessions) or more, we request that you provide medical evidence. This could be: - a letter from your doctor or consultant - appointment cards - prescriptions - or notes of previous consultations (including from the NHS App). If you cannot provide this type of evidence, please contact us to help resolve the issue.

To avoid disruption to your child’s attendance, medical and dental appointments should not be booked during the school day whenever reasonably possible. When they are, please request a leave of absence (https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=zB3xRBEcC0ixg2x0AjpLdcInIH-_byREu4ecbIGEon1UN083TlZBNzFRTzZVNUVaRzg0NUk2UkVLSi4u)in advance and collect them as close to the time of the appointment as possible and return them to school for the rest of the school day afterwards.

​Persistent Absence is classed as any absence that equates to over 10% of the academic year at any given time. Any learner who appears on the persistent absence list may be monitored by Halton School Attendance Services. The thresholds are set out below: https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0f8c60_c36fe127b9124a969f0cb40bf5f70848~mv2.png Please note that 90% on a test is seen as a positive achievement however in attendance terms anything less than 90% is a serious concern. We should be striving for 100% attendance each year. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0f8c60_579e1db930b14b7c9688965dd5707112~mv2.png

Examples of Authorised Absence · Hospital or Orthodontist appointment (evidence required). · College/Connexions/Employment Interview (evidence required). · Funeral (1 day only). · Reported Illness of less than 4 days (unless medical evidence has been requested). · Illness of 5 or more days WITH medical evidence or Home Visit. · Emergency Doctor or Dental appointments (evidence required) Routine appointments should be made outside of school hours. Examples of Unauthorised Absence · Leave of Absence NOT approved by school, for example, Holidays in term time · Absence NOT reported on the day or supported by written explanation upon return to school. · Absence of 5 or more days WITHOUT medical evidence. · Routine Doctor/Dental appointments. · Arriving late after registers have closed. · Truancy (both internal & external). · Shopping · Hair cut · Truancy · Airport visits · Birthday treats · Days out / trips · Looking after brothers and sisters at home · Oversleeping · Working

98% attendance is regarded as good and is achievable even with an average amount of illness. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/70a8d4_978383bfb30f4c29b23701492683f7c4~mv2.jpg An attendance level of 95% or below creates a cause for concern and requires intervention from the school. This intervention could be as simple as a ‘chat’ with your child’s formation teacher or may, in more severe circumstances, lead to the involvement of the local Education Welfare Service.(https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/EducationandFamilies/Schools/SchoolAttendance.aspx) https://static.wixstatic.com/media/70a8d4_46811db11736451ba1bd6fcf3f38418f~mv2.png

Let children know that good attendance is important: • Attendance is a parent and student responsibility. • Ensure we have at least three up-to-date addresses and telephone numbers. This way we can contact you quickly when required. Email admin@saintspeterandpaul.halton.sch.uk (mailto:admin@saintspeterandpaul.halton.sch.uk)or telephone 0151 424 2139 to update your information if you need to. • Let your child know that you think attending school daily is important. Show them you are interested in their school activities and tell them that you want them to do well in school. • Know your child’s attendance target. Keep a check on how they are doing. • Good attendance habits start at an early age. Make sure your child goes to school regularly and on time. This helps them develop a positive view of school and the importance of attendance. • Become involved in your child’s school life and school activities. • Post our school calendar and times of school day on refrigerator or other prominent place. • Do not provide inappropriate excuses for your child to miss school. Do not let them take time off from school for minor ailments. • Don’t expect or let older children stay home from school to babysit younger siblings. • Make a contract with your child to improve his/her attendance. Reward positive improvements. • Refrain from making appointments at the doctors or dentist etc during the school day. If this is not possible, your child needs to be in school prior to and after the appointment. We will need medical evidence upon their return. • Do not take holidays during term time – these will be recorded as ‘unauthorised absence’. Holiday request made during term time will not be authorised due to the significant impact on student progress. Parents/carers who take their children out of school for a holiday may be issued with a Penalty Notice. • Establish a routine: Give yourself and children enough time to get ready. No TV on school mornings. • Provide pupils with their own alarm clock. Set alarm clock 30 minutes earlier for pupils who need more time to get ready for school. • Plan ahead the night before: make sure your child is organised for the next day, such as identifying and pre-preparing breakfast. • Have a back-up plan for cold weather for cars not starting. • Agree and insist on an appropriate bedtime for your child in line with their age – and insist on a deadline time for use of computer / phone / TV. The Teen Sleep Hub has some fantastic advice and resources to help you. (https://teensleephub.org.uk/teens-young-people/) • Keep open lines of communication with your Children, Teacher, Principal and School Attendance Office: Let the school know in advance if your child is going to be absent or if you have concerns about your child’s attendance or school performance. • Report all absences on the day the pupil will miss school by calling the Attendance Office or line. • Provide doctor’s notes to the Attendance Officer when medical verification is available for pupil’s absences. Please provide medical evidence for any absence exceeding 5 days (10 sessions) or more. • If your child does not want to go to school, find out why and work with us and your child to address concerns. • If you notice your child is avoiding a particular class or is having a difficult time in one subject area, discuss this with your child and his/her teacher. • Offer extra support at home. This will prevent your child from developing a behaviour of avoidance in school when things become difficult. • Contact us for help if it is needed to support your child or family. Telephone 0151 424 2139 • Make sure your child knows you do not approve of him/her being late or absent. Talk to your child about issues that may be making them late for school. • Do not let your child persuade you into making an excuse for him/her. Don’t give up!

We work collaboratively with students, home and local partners to promote and support positive attendance. If your child is struggling to attend because of an issue in school or at home, has a long term illness, special educational needs or a disability, or is too anxious to attend, please talk to us. ​ You can contact your child’s formation tutor, progress leader (Head of Year), or their progress mentor either by telephone on 0151 424 2139 or email, or you can arrange a face-to-face conversation if you prefer. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0f8c60_c811dbc89b1046908c15e14b8791282c~mv2.png

Attendance Heroes Each week we celebrate the top three formation groups who have worked together to achieve the highest attendance in school. Formation groups are congratulated by the year group and senior leadership teams via Formation Time live feed and a social media post. Amazing Attendance The Amazing Attendance award gives every child an opportunity to celebrate attendance success. Every Friday, our Attendance lead draws a name from the children in each year group who have completed 100% attendance for that week. Every child with 100% attendance has a chance of winning one of five £25 Just Eat vouchers if they are in school and lessons every day from Monday to Friday. Are you in on time? Punctuality award The Are you in on time? Punctuality award celebrate those students who are in school and every lesson on time and ready to start every day that week. Each Monday, our Attendance lead draws a name from the children in each year group who have completed 100% punctuality for the previous week, for a chance of winning one of five £10 Amazon vouchers. End of term rewards By having attendance on or above 97% at the end of each term, as well as meeting other school expectations, your child will qualify for an attendance reward activity.