Dear Parent/Carer,

Regular and punctual attendance of pupils at school is both a legal requirement and a priority for us at Kimberworth Primary School in order to maximise the educational opportunities available to pupils and ensure that pupils reach their full academic potential.

School Attendance Target

In order to promote this and ensure consistency across schools within the area, as a learning community, we are setting our school attendance target at 97% this year. 97% attendance equates to 5 days of absence across one full academic year. As in previous years your child’s attendance level will be available on their Assertive Mentoring reports each term. Rewards for regular punctual attendance will continue with Attendance Shop taking place at the end of term and Bronze, Silver and Gold awards issued for one, two or three full terms of attendance. Any children whose attendance or punctuality causes concern will be informed and offered support from school to increase attendance. If there is no improvement referrals into the Early Help and Family Engagement Team will be made.

Term Time Leave and Unauthorised Absence

Over the summer holidays Rotherham MBC has changed their policy on when Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) will be administered for unauthorised absences. This is in response to the Government concerns around attendance in schools falling and the significant impact this could have on a child’s education. We have to refer parents for a FPN if the child’s overall attendance is affected by the unauthorised absences taken. Please see the criteria below with changes to the code of conduct-

•  A Fixed Penalty Notice should be issued for holidays in term time when a child’s attendance falls below the combined national average percentage (currently this is 95.3% for 2016-2017)
• The time period considered has been amended to include the holiday period and the previous 12 months attendance.

As a result of this amendment we would like to take this opportunity to remind parents that time off school for holidays is not a right. Parents are strongly advised to complete an application form, with appropriate evidence, in advance of the booking any intended holiday. Schools within the Learning Community will then consider every application individually; their policy is NOT to grant any leave of absence other than in the most exceptional of circumstances.

If a request for term time leave has not been authorised and you take your child out of school during term time, you can be referred to the Local Authority who have the powers to issue a fixed penalty notice · £60 per parent per child if paid within 21 days. ·£120 per parent per child if paid 21-28 days.

Yours Sincerely,

M Tapp

Headteacher