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Attendance
Setting good attendance patterns from the start of any academic year is vital for all of our students, and will aid them in life beyond school and into the workplace. As a school we expect all students to strive for 100% attendance, working with our parents and carers to ensure that each child attends school regularly and on time.
Being at school is a very important part of any child’s life. It enables them to learn, to make friends, to gain important knowledge and to develop a variety of skills which will prepare them for adult life. School and parents/carers are partners in making this a success. As parents or carers there is a legal responsibility to make sure that your child makes the most of this opportunity.
New national guidelines mean that the school will not be able to authorise requests to take children out of school during the academic year, such an absence will be granted in very exceptional circumstances.
Essex County Council regarding fines for term-time holidays
Leaflet containing further information
For information about common childhood and adolescent illnesses and what to do if your child is ill you may find the following link to a NHS website helpful:
If your child is going to be absent:
There may be times that your child cannot come into school. In these instances parents/carers are required to report their child’s absence by 08.30am on each and every day of absence. The message must clearly state the students full name, tutor group and clear details why your child is absent.
attendance@wdf.schoolText 07860 095562
Telephone 01245 326326, option 1
Stating that a child is “sick, unwell or poorly” is not accepted as we need the full reason to provide to the local authority. We will require medical evidence to justify repeated absences.
Please note we DO NOT have a 48 hour policy for sickness.
If we do not receive communication from a parent/carer on the morning of absence you will be contacted by the Attendance Office via text for a reason. If no response is provided this will be followed up with a phone call. If we are unable to gain contact, the absence will be marked as ‘O’ unauthorised. Continued unexplained unauthorised absences will be followed up with a welfare check from our Attendance and Safeguarding Team. This is to ensure that we can identify targeted support for you, and to promote good levels of attendance. If you have concerns that your child is using sickness as a means of not attending/refusing to attend then please contact the numbers above.
For sixth form students please contact Mrs Rean by 9.00am if you are going to be absent for any reason.