Attendance

The Lighthouse Multi Academy Trust want all children to have the best possible attendance to enable each child to reach their full potential. Together, we can improve school attendance.  

Lighthouse Trust Attendance Team

For all attendance enquires, please contact us at attendance@lighthousefederation.com  

 

Attendance Matters at the Lighthouse Multi Academy Trust

 The Lighthouse Multi Academy Trust is committed to ensuring excellent attendance in order to maximise the enjoyment, achievement and safety of all pupils. Regular attendance and good punctuality are crucial if pupils are to take full advantage of their education and achieve their full potential. 

All pupils, regardless of their circumstances, are entitled to an efficient, full-time education which is suitable for their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have. We know that a fulfilling, challenging education requires a supportive, caring environment that embraces diversity and difference. 

There is a strong statistical link between good school attendance and pupil achievement. It is proven that attainment is connected to good school attendance and missing school could have an impact on a pupil's education. The Lighthouse Multi Academy Trust strives to support all pupils on their educational journey, ensuring and celebrating success and achievement. Excellent attendance at school is crucial if pupils are to reach their full potential.  

The Lighthouse Multi Academy Trust works closely with our families, pupils and outside support agencies in order to promote attendance and safeguard our pupils. Regular attendance and punctuality is a priority for staff and our Trust Central Team and governors. 

It is a statutory government requirement for all pupils to attend educational provision regularly and on time. The aim is for all our pupils to achieve above 96% attendance wherever possible. 

If a pupil’s attendance falls below 90%, they will be deemed a 'Persistent Absentee', and the Local Authority may be notified. Each Academy reviews attendance daily and intervention will be offered to prevent the pupil from becoming a Persistent Absentee. It is essential that contact is made with the Academy as early as possible for every day of absence to ensure the safeguarding of your child. 

 

How can I help my child attend school? 

We believe that good attendance begins at home.  

Below are some ways that you can support your child to attend school every day. 

• Take an interest in their learning and school  
• Make sure your child understands that you do not approve of unnecessary absence from school.  
• Encourage your child to avoid unnecessary absence, for example, by taking time off due to minor illnesses that could be managed in school.  
• Avoid taking holidays/leave of absence during term time.  
• Arrange medical appointments outside of school hours. If this is not possible, please support their learning by ensuring they attend school before and after the appointment.  
• Contact us if your child is experiencing issues that are preventing regular attendance. 

 

Children Missing Education 

If a pupil has missed 10 consecutive school days without permission from the Academy, a referral will be made to the Local Authority before or on the 10 day.   

A pupil can be removed from the admission register when the Academy and the local authority have failed, after jointly making reasonable enquiries to establish the whereabouts of the child.  

This only applies if the Academy does not have reasonable grounds to believe that the pupil is unable to attend because of sickness or an unavoidable cause. 

A pupil’s name can only be removed from the admission register under regulation 9(1), sub-paragraph (i)(i) (ii) (iii) if the school and the local authority have failed to establish the students' whereabouts after jointly making reasonable enquiries after an absent period of no less than 20 days and the absence is unauthorised by school. 

If you move out of the area and the distance is too far to travel to the Academy, please notify us immediately. You will be asked to complete a form to detail your new address and new school. You will also be asked to provide flight details if you are leaving the country. This is in line with our safeguarding and attendance procedures.  

 We advise you to contact the admissions department (of the Local Authority where you now reside) as quickly as possible to obtain a new school place, as often places are limited. 

For more information on Children Missing Education, please see the link below:

Children missing in education- GOV.UK

 

Holidays in Term Time 

Taking your child out of school during term time could be detrimental to their educational progress. 

A pupil who takes 10 days absence will only attain 94.7% attendance in the year. They will also miss 50 hours of education. 

There is NO entitlement for parents to take their child out of school during term time for a holiday. However, you may apply to the school for leave of absence if you believe there are exceptional circumstances. 

All requests for exceptional circumstances will be considered on an individual basis. If the Head Teacher does not consider the reasons for absence as exceptional circumstances, and you decide to take the leave, the absence will be marked as unauthorised and a referral will be made to the Education Support Service, who may issue a penalty notice or consider other legal action.  

From August 2024, the National framework for penalty notices for absences has been updated.   

First offence 
The first time a penalty notice is issued, the fine amount will be £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days, reduced to £80 if paid within the first 21 days. 
 

Second offence (within 3 years) 
The second time a penalty notice is issued, the amount will be £160 per parent, per child, payable within 28 days.  The lower rate is not an option. 
 
Third offence and any further offences (within 3 years) 
The third time an offence is committed, for term time leave or irregular attendance, a penalty notice will not be issued, and the case presented straight to the Magistrates court. Magistrates can fine up to £2,500 per parent, per child. 

Cases found guilty in Magistrates court can show on the parents future DBS certificate due to failure to safeguard a child’s education. 

It is essential for your child to be in school regularly to benefit fully from their educational opportunities.  Good attendance will ensure that your child can reach their full potential. 

 

To make a request for leave of absence. 

Parents should complete a leave of absence form at least 4 weeks in advance of the absence.  

Complete the Leave of Absence form below:

 

Persistent Absence and at Risk of Persistent Absence 

Each Academy has a duty to report persistent absentees to the Local Authority and the Department for Education. 

Each Academy reports on the number of sessions a pupil is absent.  The number of sessions can result in a child being classified as a persistent absentee (Under 90%). This is then recorded by the Local Authority and Department for Education.  

If persistent absences are unauthorised by the Academy, then the matter may be referred to the Education Support Service to investigate whether an offence has been committed under Section 444(1)(1a) of the Education Act 1996 for failing to ensure regular school attendance of your child, which can result in legal intervention. 

Section 444 (1) of the Education Act 1996 states:   

If a child of compulsory school age who is a registered pupil at a school fails to attend regularly at school, his/her parents are guilty of an offence. 

Section 444 (1A) goes on to state: 

If in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) the parent knows that his child is failing to attend regularly at the school and fails to cause him to do so, s/he is guilty of an offence. 

Once you have registered your child at a school, you are legally responsible for ensuring that your child attends school regularly. Failure to do so can result in legal action being taken against you by the Local Authority. 

I do not live with the child or I am a step parent can I still be prosecuted? 

Yes, Section 576 Education Act 1996 defines ‘parent’ as: 

• Any biological parent, whether married or not 
• Any parent who, although not a biological parent, has parental responsibility as defined in the Children’s Act (1989) for a child or young person 
• Any person, who, although not a natural parent, has care of a child or young person on a day to day basis. 

A person typically has care of a child or young person if the child lives with them either full or part time and they look after them, irrespective of what their biological or legal relationship is with the child. 

 

Illness Advice 

The NHS gives the following advice on how long children should stay off school for if they are unwell. 

• Vomiting and/or diarrhoea – 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped. 
• Chickenpox – When all the spots have crusted over, usually 5 days after they first appeared. 
• Impetigo – 48 hours after starting prescription medication, or when the patches have crusted over if they aren’t taking medication. 
• Scarlet Fever – 24 hours after starting antibiotics. 
• Hand, foot and mouth – As long as your child is feeling unwell, but there is no need to wait until the blisters heal before they return. 
• Measles – at least 4 days after the rash develops. 
• Scabies – 24 hours after the first treatment. 
• Shingles – when the last blister has scabbed – usually 10 to 14 days after they first appear. 

 

There is no need for your child to stay off school with the following conditions, unless they’re feeling unwell; 

• Slapped cheek 
• Coughs and colds 
• Threadworms 
• Ringworm 
• Verrucas 

 

For further information on illnesses, please visit; 

Is my child too ill for school? - NHS