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Attendance
wE BELIEVE THAT
Maintaining good attendance is imperative.
Maintaining good attendance is imperative to ensure that our pupils are engaged with, and are not missing any of, their learning and development.
If a student is absent from school, they will be missing lessons and learning opportunities. National research has proven that students who miss school frequently will fall behind with their schoolwork, which has a negative impact on exam performance and can lead to poor social skills and friendship issues. Students who are persistently absent from school are also at increased risk of becoming involved with anti-social behaviour and crime.
We believe that every student should strive to achieve 100% attendance, and robust systems are in place to support families and students in achieving this goal. We reward our students for outstanding attendance in several ways, to promote a strong work ethic and prepare our students for life beyond school.
Once a student is registered at a school, parents/carers are legally responsible for making sure they attend regularly. If a pupil fails to do so, and there are no exceptional circumstances for an absence, parents/carers are at risk of being issued with a penalty notice or being prosecuted in court.
Reporting absence
If a student is going to be absence, this must be reported each day they are absent by:
- calling the academy on 01952 387890
- Call or leave a WhatsApp message on 07855196407
Non-attendance
If an academy identifies a student as having low attendance, letters expressing their concern will be sent by the school and to ask parents/carers to get in touch. The attendance and welfare team within the Learning Community Trust is also notified.
Within the letter, the academy may request a meeting to advise parents/carers of legal responsibilities and examine any issues that may be causing poor attendance and draw up an action plan to improve the situation. If there is no improvement in the pupil’s attendance, a legal meeting will be held. Following this, if there is still no improvement, legal proceedings may follow.
Holidays in term time
All academies within Telford and Wrekin agreed to not allow holidays within term time. This agreement is supported by all academies within the Learning Community Trust fully. It is at the Headteachers discretion to allow a holiday under extreme circumstances. The areas considered are:
- Children whose direct family is in the armed forces
- Serious medical conditions
- Children in care
Parents/Carers of Year 11 students should avoid booking a holiday during term time as their functional skills and GCSE examinations are formal exams and the sates are set by the exam. We cannot move these dates to accommodate holidays. Missing these exams will significantly impact on your childs future pathways, whether they are moving onto college, educational settings beyond Kickstart, an apprenticeship or the world of work.
Request a leave of absence
If parents/carers are considering taking a pupil out of school, you must complete the academy leave of absence request form – click here. The school will then consider the request and respond to you.
Our family liaison officer
The role of the family liaison officer is to support families and students to break down barriers to learning and support good attendance. In doing so, our family liaison officer will regularly visit the home of students to encourage them into school. If a student is absent from school regular safe and well checks will be completed.
Learning Community Trust’s attendance and welfare team
As a member of the Learning Community Trust, Kickstart Academy has the support of the trust’s education and welfare team. You can find out more information about the team on the trust’s website – click here
Our education welfare officers
The education welfare officers work with our academies, families, and students to promote and support good attendance and to help resolve any issues that may be impacting on attendance and welfare at school. We also liaise with the local authority regarding unauthorised holidays in term-time, persistent absence, child employment, elective home education and legal issues relating to school attendance.
Learning mentors
The learning mentors work with students whose attendance, behaviour or health issues are preventing them from reaching their full potential at school. This will usually take place within our Kickstart Empower provision.
Counsellors
The counsellors help students to discuss their problems, thoughts, and feelings in a confidential setting, and offer them strategies to help improve their emotional wellbeing and mental health. The team have a variety of resources and a wealth of experience that enables them to work with our pupils from reception to year 11.
Our academies have systems in place to identify and support students who may benefit from emotional health and wellbeing support. As well as the counsellors, our schools have teams including pastoral staff, SEND staff, safeguarding staff, attendance officers and family liaison officers, all of whom can offer different skills and experience alongside that of teaching staff, to help your child at school.
