Why Attendance Matters at Silvertrees Academy

Good attendance and punctuality are vital for success at Silvertrees Academy. They help to establish positive life habits necessary for future success. Regular attendance encourages children to build friendships and develop social groups, work together as a whole team, share ideas and develop life skills. Children's social skills are similarly enhanced by regular attendance. Non-attendees will also inevitably not only miss out on essential learning, but also other social events taking place such as school plays and performances.

The school has a positive and proactive ethos that places high value on attendance and punctuality.  In addition, it values its partnership with parents/carers to promote good attendance and advocates close working with all local Schools/Academies. It is these partnerships that aim to provide a cohesive approach to tackling attendance within Silvertrees Academy ensuring that every child matters.

Meet the Attendance Team

School Attendance Leader - Miss Cox

Attendance Improvement Consultant - Mrs Thompson

The Attendance Improvement Consultant, Mrs Thompson, works collaboratively across school settings to implement the common policy and procedures. She works closely with the school and families to resolve attendance issues, arranging home visits where necessary. The Attendance Improvement Consultant will support the School Attendance Lead, Miss Cox, with referrals and with liaising directly with Attendance Service in relation to any legal action cases.

Absence

If your child cannot attend school, parents are required to contact the school and leave a message on the school absence line by 8.45am. We require you to call every day of your child’s absence. If we do not receive a reason for your child’s absence then we will try and contact you to find out why your child is not in school. Should we be unable to contact you we will ask our Attendance Consultant Mrs Thompson to carry out a home visit.  Mrs Thompson may also do a home visit if your child has been absent for more than three days.

Wherever possible, we would ask that medical appointments be made outside of the school day, although we understand that this is not always possible. If you child does need to attend a medical appointment, ie dentist, doctors, hospital etc, you may be asked to provide evidence of this appointment. This can be in the form of a compliment slip from the surgery/other, giving your child’s name and date of appointment, bearing an official signature and stamp. 

Holidays in Term Time

The law gives no entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time. Any application for leave must now only be in exceptional circumstances and the Head Teacher must be satisfied that the circumstances are exceptional and warrant the granting of leave. Head teachers are not expected to class any term time holiday as exceptional, indeed parents can now be fined by the Local Authority for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from school.