Attendance
At Bramley C of E Infant and Nursery School we our proud of our high levels of attendance and appreciate the support of parents and families in maintaining this.
The school staff, alongside the Local Authority, firmly believes that all pupils benefit from regular (i.e. 100%) school attendance. We know that every day lost to education can have a serious impact on children’s attainment and overall progress in school. As a staff we do all we can to encourage parents and families to ensure that the children in our care achieve maximum possible attendance and that any problems that prevent full attendance are identified and acted on promptly.
Please note that the Head of School will not grant leave of absence during term-time unless in "exceptional" circumstances. The fundamental principles being that "exceptional" should be rare, significant, unavoidable and short. Any leave of absence during term-time needs to be agreed in advance by the Head of School using the Leave of Absence Request Form. Further information and guidance is included in our Attendance Policy.
The Government expects schools to proactively improve and manage attendance. At Bramley C of E Infant and Nursery School our whole school attendance is often above the National average and we are grateful for the support that parents provide in making sure children attend punctually and are in school every day.
If your child's attendance drops below 95% you will be informed by letter. If attendance drops to below 90% future absences will be recorded as unauthorised until attendance improves. This will mean that you may be asked to provide evidence for absences during this period such as a GP/hospital appointment message or prescription. Please note we DO NOT expect you to request a sick note from your GP.
If you would like to discuss your child's attendance at any time, please contact the Head of School via the school office (office@bramley.surrey.sch.uk) to arrange an appointment.
Holidays: School holiday dates are published well in advance on the school’s website and parents are expected to plan and take their family holidays during school holidays, so they do not disrupt their children’s education. Please note that a holiday does not count as an exceptional circumstance. To request absence for your child, you will need to complete a Leave of Absence Form.
Penalty notices for attendance
The Surrey Attendance Service, acting on behalf of Surrey County Council may issue a Penalty Notice as an alternative to the prosecution of a parent/carer for their child’s unauthorised absence from school and require the recipient to pay a fixed amount.
Circumstances when a Penalty Notices may be issued
1. Pupils identified by police and Surrey Attendance Advice Officers engaged on Truancy Patrols and who have incurred unauthorised absences.
2. The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 state that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Where a child is taken out of school for 10 sessions or more and the ‘leave of absence’ is without the authority of the head teacher, each parent is liable to receive a penalty notice for each child who is absent. In these circumstances, a warning will not be given where it can be shown that parents had previously been warned that such absences would not be authorised and that they will be liable to receive a Penalty Notice if the leave of absence is taken.
3. The issue of a Penalty Notice will also be considered where a pupil has incurred 10 or more unauthorised sessions during the preceding 10 school weeks. The parents’ failure to engage with supportive measures proposed by the school will be a factor when considering the issue of a Penalty Notice. Unauthorised absence will include late arrival after the close of registration without good reason.
4. Section 103 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 places a duty on parents to ensure that their child is not in a public place without justifiable cause during school hours when they are excluded from school. This duty applies to the first five days of each exclusion. Failure to do so will render the parent liable to a Penalty Notice. If the Penalty Notice is not paid, the recipient will be prosecuted for the offence under Section 103. Alternative education provision will be made from the sixth day of any exclusion and failure to attend such provision without good reason will be treated as unauthorised absence.
With the exception of unauthorised leave of absence taken in term time (Paragraph 2 above) parents will be sent a ‘Notice To Improve’ their child’s attendance, warning them of their liability to receive such a notice before it is issued.
Amount Payable Under a Penalty Notice: The Education (Penalty Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024
1. If a parent/carer has not incurred a penalty notice relating to the relevant child/children since 19 August 2024, then the penalty notice will be charged at the rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80.00 if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
2. If you have incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children since 19 August 2024, the rolling 3 year period will be activated from the date of the first penalty notice and the second penalty notice will be charged at the flat rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. There will be no reduction for payment within 21 days. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
3. If you have incurred 2 penalty notices relating to this child/children in the rolling 3 year period since the first penalty notice was issued, then you will NOT receive a third penalty notice – Surrey County Council will have no option but to consider a prosecution, per parent/carer per child, in the Magistrates Court under s 444 Education Act 1996.
If you would like any further information regarding these changes, full details can be found here:
Working together to improve school attendance