At The Python Hill Academy we view excellent attendance and punctuality as vitally important for the learning and progress of the children. Your child’s time at school is very valuable, they only get the chance once! It is therefore very important that they miss as little school as possible.
Research shows that children who have good school attendance are more likely to do well in the future. Regular attendance also helps children to develop their confidence and make and keep lasting friendships.
Improving Attendance remains one of our biggest target areas as an Academy and as such we celebrate good attendance.
WEEKLY
At the end of each week the class with the highest attendance receive the attendance trophy to keep in their class for the following week. We have a racing track on the wall in the hall for each class. The class with the highest attendance moves their car along the track.
If a class get 100% attendance, they get a non-uniform day the following Monday.
If a child is in all school every day for a week, they are given a raffle ticket to put in the class box.
HALF TERMLY
Each half term, children that have been to school everyday get a 100% attendance certificate.
An attendance prize is given out to each class each half term. A raffle ticket is chosen from each class box from the tickets the children have put in weekly. We give prizes such a book vouchers, tickets to the cinema or play center as well as games.
Thank you for your support in getting your child into school on time everyday.
Any absences should be reported to the academy before 8.45am on the first day of absence, and every day that follows. Telephone: 01623 464164
From September 2013 the Principal no longer has the authority to authorise absences for the purpose of taking a family holiday except in exceptional circumstances. We therefore ask parents and carers to avoid booking holidays during term time.
The school will be closed for an extra ‘Inset’ week each year in June.
This will give parents/carers the opportunity to take a holiday during term time when there would be potential cost savings. As a result of this there will be a zero tolerance approach towards parents taking their children out of school at any other time. If however you believe there are exceptional reasons why your child needs to be absent from school you need to complete a Leave of Absence Application Form, which is available from the school office.
A child who is absent from school for 2 weeks (10 days) will have less than 95% attendance for that year before taking into account any further days lost due to illness.
Where a child’s level or pattern of absences becomes a concern, we will discuss this with the parent or carer and may involve the Targeted Support Service.
➢ 95% attendance means that your child has missed two weeks of school.
➢ 90% attendance means that your child has missed four weeks of school/half a day every week.
➢ 80% attendance means that your child has missed eight weeks of school.
➢ Attendance of below 90% over five years is equivalent to your child missing half a year of school.
➢ Attendance below 80% over five years means that your child misses a whole year of school.
➢ Research suggests that 17 missed school days a year equals a drop in GCSE grade (Department for children, schools and families).
➢ Only a quarter of pupils will achieve GCSE grades A to C if their attendance is below 90%.
➢ Pupils who are frequently absent from school are more likely to become involved or be a victim of crime and anti-social behaviour.
➢ Poor attendance suggests to future employers that the individual is unreliable. Get into good habits early.
➢ Missing 10% (about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
➢ One of the most effective ways for providing pathways out of poverty is by doing what it takes to get children into school every day.