Absence through illness or unforeseen circumstances

Parents must contact the school when their child is absent to explain that absence before 8:25am on the first and subsequent absent days. This can be done as follows through a phone call to the attendance team 02476 341134 and selecting option 1, or by emailing attendance@nuneatonacademy.org.uk or through the school app, with the following details:

• Full name of pupil
• Pupil’s year group or form
• Reason for absence
• Full name of person reporting absence and relation to child

Do expect to receive a call back from the school to discuss your child’s absence and to see if we can support in any way. If pupils suffer any form of injury, then we ask that you contact the school to make us aware. This is so we can do a risk assessment with you. It will identify impacts of the injury and the support your child may need. 

Attending an Appointment

Please schedule dental and non-urgent medical appointments outside of school hours. We know this might be tough for hospital visits. If rescheduling fails, your child must bring a medical letter or appointment card. We need it for our records. Pupils must be picked up and returned to school if their appointment ends during the school day. 

Leave of Absence Requests – ‘Exceptional Circumstances’

The law does not grant parents the automatic right to take their child out of school during term time.  The law states a leave of absence may only be granted by a school if an application is made in advance and if it considers there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.

Only exceptional circumstances warrant an authorised leave of absence. Generally, a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation would not constitute an exceptional circumstance. The school will consider each application individually, considering the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind the request. The request must be made by the parent with whom the child normally lives, and permission must be sought in advance. The school will not grant leave of absence unless there are exceptional circumstances. The school must be satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances, based on the individual facts and circumstances of the case; following consultation with other staff as required, including the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Where a leave of absence is granted, the school will determine the number of days the pupil can be away from school. A leave of absence is granted entirely at the school’s discretion.

Circumstances which could be authorised include significant family emergencies or funerals. However, parents will also be aware that, wherever possible, it can be better for children to continue to attend school normally during difficult family times.

Parents should complete a Leave of Absence Request form which is available from the school. Leave of Absence Request forms can be obtained by contacting the attendance team on 02476 341134 and selecting option 1, or by emailing attendance@nuneatonacademy.org.uk.

The request should be submitted as soon as it is anticipated; and wherever possible, at least four weeks before the absence. Although such absence may be unauthorised, it is better that we know your child is safe, rather than missing. Please be aware that you may be required to provide us with additional evidence to support your request. If we have any concerns about possible safeguarding risks such as risk of FGM or Forced Marriage, we will follow the necessary protocols.

All term time absence for children in care should be discussed at the child’s Personal Education Planning (PEP) meeting in advance where possible and agreed with the Social Care and Virtual School. This permission should be gained before school is approached for approval.  The school will contact the Virtual School in relation to any requests for term time absence for a child in care.

Leave of Absence taken in the academic year 2024-25

The law relating to Penalty Notices changed with effect from 19 August 2024. Therefore, Penalty Notices issued for Leave of Absence taken from September 2024 will be issued in accordance with the updated legislation.

Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example 2 children and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices – 4 in total). 

• First Leave of Absence Offence:  The amount of £160 to be paid within 28 days, this is reduced to £80 each child if paid within 21 days.
• Second Leave of Absence Offence within a 3-year period (from the date of issue of the first penalty notice): The amount of £160 paid within 28 days.  No reduced amount.
• Third Leave of Absence offence within a 3-year period (from the date of issue of the first penalty notice). A Penalty Notice will not be issued and the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal prosecution proceedings under S444 of Education Act 1996.

Rewarding Good and Improved Attendance

Our school has a motivating rewards system to encourage good attendance and punctuality, recognising the importance of being present and prepared for learning. We aim to ensure that pupils feel valued for their efforts and are rewarded for their commitment to school life.

Each day, pupils who arrive on time and with the correct equipment will be issued a Golden Ticket. These tickets serve as a daily incentive and acknowledgement of their preparedness and punctuality. At the end of each half-term, these tickets will be entered into a prize draw, giving pupils the opportunity to win a variety of exciting prizes. The more Golden Tickets a pupil earns, the higher their chances of winning.

To encourage a collective effort, the form group with the highest attendance each week will be given the privilege of wearing non-uniform on the Friday of that week. This reward fosters a sense of teamwork and encourages pupils to support one another in attending school regularly.

Attendance also plays a key role in our overall House Competition, with attendance points contributing to each house’s progress towards winning the House Trophy. The more consistently pupils attend, the more points they can earn for their house, giving an added incentive to ensure they are present and ready to learn.

As part of our unique approach to celebrating good attendance, we regularly invite musicians into the school to put on special performances known as Attendance Recognition Gigs. These events are held to recognise pupils' dedication to maintaining good attendance, providing an enjoyable and memorable experience that rewards pupils in a creative and fun way.

For pupils who maintain strong attendance throughout the year, there is an exciting End-of-Year Trip. This trip is designed to reward those who have demonstrated consistent attendance and commitment to their learning, offering them the chance to participate in a special excursion as a celebration of their efforts.

For our Year 11 pupils, there is an additional reward of a reduced-price prom ticket. This discount is based on a range of criteria, with attendance being a significant factor. Pupils who show consistent attendance and meet other set criteria will be eligible for this reward, making their prom experience even more accessible.

This comprehensive rewards system not only motivates pupils to attend regularly but also fosters a positive school culture where attendance is celebrated and valued. We believe that recognising and rewarding these efforts helps to instil responsibility and a sense of achievement in our pupils, contributing to their overall success and to the success of their house.

School Support

We understand that there may be challenges affecting  your child's ability to attend regularly, and we are here to help and explore these challenges and work collaboratively to remove any obstacles that may be preventing your child from attending school. If you wish to arrange a meeting to discuss the reasons for 'your child's absences, any barriers to attendance, and to create a plan that will support your child’s return to school and ongoing success, please contact the academy office on 02476341134 or via email at attendance@nuneatonacademy.org.uk to discuss the support avialble or arrange a meeting. We look forward to working with you to ensure that your child can engage fully in their education and reach their full potential.

Early Help

 We understand that there can be a variety of reasons behind low attendance, and we believe it is important to work together to support pupils getting back on track.

To help with this, we may be able to offer you the opportunity to engage with the Early Help process. Early Help is a support plan that allows families to access a range of services though utilising Warwickshire County Council support network and resources tailored to their individual needs. By working with multiple agencies, we can help address any challenges that might be affecting pupils attendance, whether they are related to health, emotional wellbeing, or family circumstances. Further information can be found out about Early Help by visiting the following website: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/children-families/early-help-warwickshire/1

If you would like to find out more about the Early Help process and explore the support options available to help improve your child's school experience and attendance, please contact our attendance team to arrange a meeting by contacting by phone on 02476341134 or via email: attendance@nuneatonacademy.org.uk

 

Help if your child is too anxious to go to school

Attending school usually helps to protect your child’s mental health, for a range of reasons including giving them a chance to be with friends and to benefit from learning. However, some children can be anxious or worried about going to school, particularly around the start of the new year or joining a new school or class. This is a normal emotion, and not necessarily indicative of an underlying mental health condition.

If their anxiety continues and becomes an attendance issue, you should speak to your child's school together with your child about why they are anxious and what can be done.

The Family Information Service can also provide you with information and access to support.

Rise Mental Health in Schools Team (MHSTs)

The Mental Health in Schools Team is an NHS service that has been introduced as part of the national plans to expand mental health services for children, young people and their families within the education setting.

Working across Coventry and Warwickshire, we are here to provide mental health interventions, advice, and liaison with specialist services to help children and young people get the right support. We work closely with schools to develop their ‘whole school and college approach’ to mental health and wellbeing.

Our contact method is through the Rise Navigation Hub: 0300 200 2021 – please ensure you ask for the MHST and they will take a message for us to contact you as soon as we are able to.

If you wish to discuss a referral to our service, please contact your school’s Mental Health Lead. sian.toon@nunetaonacademy.org.uk