Absence Policy

Halton Borough Council have outlined their expectations on parents in accordance with Working Together To Improve School Attendance (applies from 19 August 2024)

• That you will ensure that your child attends school regularly (as defined by the Supreme Court in 2017 as every day the school is open except when a statutory reason applies) and that you notify the school as soon as possible when your child has to be unexpectedly absent
• That you only request leave of absence in exceptional circumstances and that you do so in advance (it is the Headteacher’s decision on what is deemed ‘exceptional’ as the priority is for your child to attend school every day but generally, the DfE does not consider a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance.
• That where possible you book medical appointments around the school day but when this cannot be avoided and your child has an appointment in school time you notify the school in advance (and if your child attends the appointment in uniform, they can return to school afterwards)
• That you work with your child’s school and the Local Authority to help with the understanding of any barriers to your child attending school regularly. (Please contact your schools attendance team in the first instance, who will be happy to help and offer any advice or support with barriers you may be facing.)
• That you engage with support offered, such as through our Family Hubs or attending meetings to prevent the need for more formal support.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

From August 2024 where a parent takes the child out of school and commits a second offence within a rolling three-year period the penalty notice amount will automatically be set at the £160 (with no reduction for early payment).

For any third offence in the rolling three-year period there will be no penalty notice but there will be a prosecution.

Penalty notices are issued per parent, per child.

These changes do not take away the possibility of the Local Authority going straight to prosecution for a second offence where a penalty notice has been issued previously and not paid, resulting in a prosecution.

Halton Local Authority will continue to work closely with school leaders, families and support services across the borough to ensure that every child has the best opportunity to achieve their potential.

ADDITIONAL ABSENCE INFORMATION

 If a child is absent from school for 5 days or more due to illness, the absence must be supported with medical evidence.  This can be in the form of a doctors note, prescription or the medicine it’s self that has been prescribed by a medical practitioner.  If this evidence is not provided then the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and again, this can lead to further fines and prosecution.

When attendance falls below 90% the Education Welfare Officer, from Halton Borough Council is routinely involved to improve attendance.

PLEASE SEE OUR PUPIL ABSENCE & PUNCTUALITY POLICY FOR MORE INFORMATION

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