Attendance
Your child’s attendance and punctuality are very important to us. St Kentigern’s RC Primary School believes that regular school attendance is the key to enabling children to maximise the educational opportunities available to them and become emotionally resilient, confident, and competent adults who are able to realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to their community.
At St Kentigern’s School, we fully appreciate that there may be occasions when a pupil’s attendance may be affected due to exceptional circumstances. In these cases support and advice will always be available from the school. Unfortunately, despite this support, attendance levels for some pupils continue to fall below the school’s expectations of 97%. All pupils’ attendance is closely monitored by the school on a daily and weekly basis to ensure that all of our children are in school and reaching their targets. We very much want to work together with all of our families to help support children’s attendance at school. We do appreciate the fact that a significant number of pupils have excellent attendance and this should be commended.
If you would like to discuss your child’s attendance further or if we can help to support you, please call the school office and ask to speak with Mrs.Murray (0161 224 6842).
Attendance Penalty Notice Information (From August 2024)
In the school year, any parents/carers of pupils who accrue unauthorised absence are now duly warned that they may receive a penalty notice or be prosecuted in the magistrates court. A penalty notice will be issued to each parent for each child.
For the First Offence, the penalty notice incurs a fine of £120 to be paid within 28 days, which is reduced to £80 if paid within the first 21 days. Any non-payment of the Penalty Notice may be referred to the Magistrates Court.
For a Second Offence, (within 3 years) – The second time a Penalty Notice is issued the amount will be £160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days. Any non-payment of the Penalty Notice may be referred to the Magistrates Court.
For a Third or Any Further Offences (within 3 years) – The third time an offence is committed a Penalty Notice will not be issued, and the case may be presented straight to the Magistrates Court under the S.444 of the Education Act (1996) or other legal interventions considered.
Schools have to inform the Local Authority of any pupils who are regularly absent from school, have irregular attendance, or have missed 10 school days or more without the school’s permission. Schools also have a safeguarding duty, under Section 175 Education Act 2002, to investigate any unexplained absences. Attendance below 96% has a significant impact on pupil outcomes. The school will work with families to understand the barriers to attendance and provide support. Where that is not
successful or is not engaged with, the law protects pupils’ right to an education and provides a range of legal interventions to formalise attendance improvement efforts, and where all other avenues have been exhausted, enforce it through prosecuting parents. Parents can be issued a Fixed Penalty Notice by the Local Authority for their child’s non-attendance.
Nursery and Reception
I would like to address the parents of Nursery and Reception pupils to highlight the importance of regular and punctual attendance. Our youngest children rely on consistent routines to help them settle well, build confidence, and make steady progress as they move through school. In the Early Years, children establish the foundations of how they learn and begin to understand the world around them, developing the essential early skills of literacy, numeracy, communication, and social interaction. Good attendance ensures they can make the most of these vital learning opportunities and reach their full potential.
Once again thank you for supporting St Kentigern’s School in improving attendance, which will ensure that all pupils in school have the opportunity to reach their full potential and improve outcomes for their future.