Attendance
This is a summary of West Hill’s attendance policy. You can find the full document on our Policies page.
WEST HILL TARGET 100%
Parent/Carer responsibilities
- To ensure that your child arrives punctually and prepared for the school day.
- To ensure that your child attends school on as many days as possible, hopefully every day. For guidance on common illnesses in children, please click here.
- To inform the school of your child's absence each day using the Studybugs app.
- To complete a request for absence in exceptional circumstances form when you want to take your child out of school during term time, giving at least two weeks’ notice.
- Provide medical appointment evidence whenever possible.
- To complete the medical leave form for operations and recuperation periods that require time off during term.
Class Teacher responsibilities
- To keep parents/carers regularly informed of pupils’ attendance records.
- To support parents/carers in achieving maximum possible attendance for our pupils.
- To recognise and reward over-target or improved attendance.
Vice Principal responsibilities
- To invite parents/carers into school to discuss any persistent absence issues.
- To send letters home stating concerns if attendance levels are unacceptable.
Office responsibilities
- If we have not heard from parent/carers by 10:00am each day, to call to ask why your child is not in school.
- To respond promptly to a child’s or parent’s concerns about the school or other pupils.
- To inform parents/carers in writing of irregular attendance, arrange meetings if necessary and refer to the Education Welfare Service as required.
- To follow up all absences and obtain notes/medical evidence for these absences.
Education Welfare Officer role
- To work alongside the Vice Principal monitoring attendance levels; in conjunction with the Vice Principal, to make decisions about issuing penalty notices (Section 444 Education Act 1996) if a pupil is taken out of school for five days or more without prior authority of the Vice Principal.