All absences must be accounted for. Parents should notify the Academy of why their child is unable to attend by 9.30am on the first day of absence. This can be by:
- sending in an explanatory note or leaving a verbal message with a member of staff;
- by email to absence@smawthorneprimary.org;
- by message on the ParentMail app;
- by phoning the school office on 01977 558395 (Option 1 to leave a message or hold to speak to a member of staff).
Where no explanation has been received for a child’s absence, enquiries will be made requesting a reason for the absence.
Children who arrive after registration closes and the entrance doors have been locked will be marked as ‘late’. If you are late, you must sign your child in at the office using the Inventry console before your child is admitted.
Registers are checked regularly by the Attendance Officer and Education Welfare Officer, and if there are any concerns, parents will be contacted.
Holidays in term time
Please avoid taking holidays in term time as these disrupt your child’s learning. We have a zero tolerance to term time holidays and these will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances.
Penalty Notices
From 19 August 2024, Penalty Notices will be issued for term time leave of 5 or more consecutive days or 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10 weeks period. For a first offence, these will be £160 per parent/per child if paid within 28 days, reducing to £80 per parent/per child if paid within 21 days. Further details are contained in our Attendance and Punctuality Policy.
