School Info

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ATTENDANCE POLICY

AIM OF ATTENDANCE POLICY

•  UCC will offer an environment in which students feel valued and welcome.
•  Students will know that their presence is important.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Parents and carers
•  Parents and carers are responsible for ensuring that children attend UCC regularly, punctually, properly equipped and in fit condition to learn.
•  If a child is prevented for any reason from attending, or is going to be late, parents are requested to notify UCC by 10.00am on the same day - by 'phone call or message, and followed up in writing on the child's return.

Students
•  Students will be made aware of the importance of maintaining their attendance at the highest possible level.
•  All students are expected to attend UCC regularly and punctually, and to adhere to our policies on behaviour and dress.
•  All student attendance will be monitored using individual attendance records.

Governors
•  The Headteacher will report to the governing body highlighting progress in this important area.
•  The Governors will nominate a member to work alongside the Headteacher on attendance issues.

College Staff
•  Staff will endeavour to encourage good attendance and punctuality through personal example.
•  Attendance is the responsibility of all UCC staff (not just teaching and pastoral staff) who will respond to absenteeism firmly, consistently and with care.
•  A student's absence from UCC must be considered as unauthorised until a satisfactory explanation is received.
•  All unaccounted for absences will be promptly investigated, and parents and students will be kept informed about any attendance concerns.
•  Students and/or parents who experience difficulties with regular attendance will be offered prompt and sympathetic support, initially from the Form Tutor.
•  Senior members of staff and/or external support services such as the Education Welfare Service can also offer support should the need arise.

REGISTRATION

•  Registers will be taken punctually each day at 8.55 am and 1.50 pm.
•  If a student arrives after the registers close at 9.05 am and 1.55 pm s/he should report to Reception.

Authorised absence
Absence will be authorised by the Headteacher for:
•  Sickness
•  Unavoidable medical/dental appointments, but wherever possible these should be made outside of school hours
•  Days of religious observance
•  Exceptional family circumstances
•  Family holidays of up to 10 days per academic year

Unauthorised absence
Absence will not be authorised for:
•  Shopping trips
•  Looking after other family members
•  Domestic chores
•  Birthdays or similar events
•  Any work (paid or unpaid) undertaken during college hours

Approved educational activity
Students will not be deemed absent when out of college to take part in:
•  Sporting activity
•  Educational visits
•  Work experience
•  Courses/classes in other establishments

•  Study leave

Holidays in term time
•  Parents are strongly encouraged to avoid booking family holidays during term time.
•  Parents may request leave of absence, however it is at the discretion of the college as to whether the time off will be authorised.
•  If leave is granted, parents must appreciate it is their responsibility to ensure their child catches up with any missed work on their return.
•  Parents should apply to UCC on the appropriate form for permission at least 10 college days in advance of any such holiday.
•  Before granting any leave of absence UCC will give consideration to:
•  The student's previous attendance
•  Academic progress
•  Any examination commitments

FOLLOWING UP LATENESS AND ABSENCE

•  It is the parent/carer's responsibility to contact college by 10.00am on the first day of all absences, and where possible to give a return date. Where this is not possible the parent/carer should keep in regular contact with UCC.
•  If a student is absent regularly, apparently unnecessarily, UCC will contact parents/carers to notify them of the UCC concern and to emphasise the parent/carer's legal responsibility to ensure regular attendance.
•  If a student is persistently absent and UCC's efforts to effect an improvement have been unsuccessful, the matter will be referred to the LA Education Welfare Service.
•  Students who are absent through sickness, or any other unavoidable cause, for an extended period will be supported in continuing their education at home where this is possible, and will be supported in re-integrating into UCC on their return.

PROMOTING ATTENDANCE

•  UCC will employ a range of strategies, sanctions and rewards to encourage good attendance and punctuality.
•  Attendance data will be collected and analysed regularly, and combined with an annual review of the school attendance policy will inform future practice and college targets which will be set out in an action plan to be shared with parents and carers.
•  Good attendance/improved attendance will be rewarded and publicised.
•  Regular liaison between partner primary schools and UCC will identify students who may require extra support during the transition into Year 7.

STATUTORY FRAMEWORK

•  The college's policy is based on Section 7 of the 1996 Education Act which states, "The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient, full-time education suitable (a) to his age, ability, and aptitude and (b) to any special needs he may have, either by attendance at school or otherwise."
•  Failure to do so is a strict liability offence (Section 444(1), 1996 Education Act) with a maximum penalty of a £1,000 fine per parent per child.
•  Where parents are shown to have known that their child was out of school without leave of the Headteacher and that they "without reasonable justification" failed to cause the child to attend, they may be found guilty of a higher offence with a maximum penalty of £2,500 per parent per child, and/or 3 months imprisonment (Section 444(1A), 1996 Education Act).
•  Parenting Orders requiring parents and carers to attend parenting skills sessions can also be applied to both offences.

ACTION PLANNING TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE

•  College and individual student attendance should be kept under regular review and a senior member of staff and a governors should have an overall responsibility for college attendance.
•  Accurate marking of registers with the appropriate code letters for absences will enable detailed analysis of the nature of absence as well as the quantity.
•  This information should be compared to the previous performance of UCC and of individual students.

WORK OF THE STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM

Aims of the Student Support Team
•  to provide an administrative support service to Form Tutors and Heads of Year
•  to promote positive and pro-active strategies to raise attendance across the College
•  to work in an encouraging, supportive way with UCC students.

There are three major strands to the work the Attendance Team undertakes that complement the work of staff in pastoral roles:
1. Administrative support
2. Positive whole-college intervention strategies
3. Pro-active strategies supporting individuals with unsatisfactory attendance and punctuality.

Administrative Support

n.b. While the Form Tutor has responsibility for the keeping of an accurate daily register and completion of an absence return sheet, the Student Support Team can offer support in dealing with attendance concerns and chasing absences.

Daily checking tasks

•  Late list and medical list
•  Register SIMS check
•  Check on Years 7 - 13 caseload
•  Following up Tutor requests to chase up an absence
•  Lesson check
•  Site check
•  Parent contact
•  Home visit
•  Sweep of town

Letters

There are many different types of letter on file that can be generated to fit the circumstances in regard to unsatisfactory attendance or unexplained absence. These are available at Tutor or Head of Year request.

Communication

•  The Student Support Team will notify Tutors/Heads of Year about responses when chasing absences
•  The Student Support Team would value a two-way communication process so they are aware of returns from absence etc.
•  Student Support Team keeps files on each year group and is happy to share information with Tutors/Heads of Year.

Positive whole-college intervention strategies

The Student Support Team has been involved in many interventionist strategies including:
Year 7 Residential, attendance interviews, Year 7 Support Group, Attendance poster competition, Football coaching, Year 11 Super Learning Conference, extra-curricular opportunities e.g. Tyre Challenge, town sweeps

Pro-active Strategies: Improving individual attendance
Strategies concerning individual students will proceed up this ladder of level responses if attendance deteriorates further and there is a lack of improvement.

Level of response	Strategy
1	Discussion and review between student and Tutor or student and Student Support Team
2	Letter sent home. Parental phone call
3	Parent meets Form Tutor or Student Support Team. Home visit by Student Support Team. Truancy or punctuality detentions to replace learning time lost.
4	Placed on report. Placed on truancy watch. Further detentions for replacement of lost learning time.
5	Attendance interview with Student Support Team with target setting. Further use of truancy watch, report and detention.
6	Formal (after College) Pastoral Support meeting with the following in attendance - Head of Year and/or Form Tutor, member of Student Support Team (in Governor capacity), parent, EWO and other external agencies where appropriate. PSP then meets regularly to consider progress. Strategies could include: target setting, class move, Connexions support, modified timetable.
7	Headteacher's attendance review. Parents and Headteacher consider attendance record and problem of continued unsatisfactory attendance.

EDUCATION WELFARE OFFICERS
The Education Welfare Officers provide a valuable link between College and home. They visit parents to discuss any problems, and help or advise on College-related matters. They are frequently in College to liaise with Heads of Year and the SEN Team, and Welfare Meetings are held as necessary after school.