Attendance
In school, on time, every day!

Concordia Academy is dedicated to ensuring every pupil attends school, arriving on time, every day. Regular attendance is crucial for academic success, social development, and overall well-being.

Our goal is to proactively address attendance issues and support each child in reaching their full potential through specific, actionable steps and responsibilities.
If you need help or support with your child’s attendance please do not hesitate to contact Ms Smith, our Attendance and Welfare Officer.

Why is it important for children to attend school?

  • Attendance has a direct link to attainment. Achieving at school builds a child’s self-esteem, as well as enhancing their future prospects.
  • Attending school and being part of the school’s community gives a child a sense of belonging and promotes their social development.
  • Attending school regularly builds their confidence and resistance.

We kindly therefore ask that you adhere to the following procedures if your child is going to be absent from school which may impact their attendance.

Reporting Absence (due to illness)

So that we can be more efficient in dealing with pupil absences, we ask that if your child is going to be absent from school, you call the school on 01708 932710 and choose the option to report an absence before 8.40am every day that your child is absent. This will give you the opportunity to leave a voicemail. If you are unable to call the school, then please email the school  at [email protected]

Requesting Leave of Absence (for holidays and exceptional circumstances)

You must inform the school if you are planning to take your child out of school during term time and we should be notified at least four weeks prior to the absence commencing although we appreciate that there may be times when this is not possible. Please complete a Leave of Absence form in which your request will then be considered, and a letter will follow detailing the Headteacher’s decision.

Following amendments to the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 that came into effect 1 September 2013, schools are only allowed to grant leave of absence from school in exceptional circumstances.

When making a written request for leave of absence from school in term time you need to explain why the circumstances are exceptional, and therefore cannot be taken within the normal 13 weeks holiday your child has from school.

If you require any further details please refer to our Attendance Policy.

Good attendance

Although an exam mark of 90% is very good, when looking at school attendance 90% equates to half a day absence per week. This in turn equates to 4 weeks absence in an academic year. If a child persistently had 90% attendance over the course of their education, they would have been absent for a whole year of their education.

How we promote good attendance

  1. We celebrate good attendance in assemblies and on the weekly newsletter: There is an attendance noticeboard, and we celebrate the best attendance of the week and the current term. Classes work together to try and achieve good attendance.
  2. We celebrate good attendance in class: Classes with the best attendance for their key stage that week get a turn to roll the inflatable dice and move their counter along on the school Snakes and Ladders game displayed in the main entrance corridor.
  3. Each class is rewarded for attendance: When a class wins ‘Best attendance of the term,’ they enjoy a fun movie afternoon along with their peers and complete with ice cream!
  4. Each individual child is rewarded for attendance: Each child has the opportunity to earn a badge for 100% attendance over each term. Class teachers do have discretion to award badges for special circumstances.
  5. Children who qualify for Pupil Premium are supported in achieving good attendance.

How we monitor attendance:

  1. Daily checks – We monitor attendance daily. We contact parents to find out why children are absent and make daily home visits where parents cannot be reached.
  2. Letters – We write letters to parents to inform them about their child’s attendance and to encourage them to improve their children’s attendance.
  3. Support – We offer support, advice and guidance including intervention from our school Family Liaison Officer and local charities where necessary.
  4. Meeting 1 – The school Attendance and Welfare Officer meets with parents to offer support in improving attendance.
  5. Meeting 2 – Where attendance doesn’t improve, the Headteacher along with the Attendance and Welfare Officer meets with parents.
  6. Meeting 3 – Where attendance doesn’t improve, the EWO for Havering is engaged to meet with the family and discuss next steps.

GREEN ZONE
All pupils whose attendance is 95% or above are part of the green zone. Pupils in this zone are more likely to achieve.

AMBER ZONE
Those pupils who have fallen below 95% are in the Amber Zone. They are automatically monitored by the school.

RED ZONE
All pupils whose attendance falls below 90% will be considered for legal monitoring by the Local Authority and a meeting will be held with the Attendance Officer and Headteacher