Attendance and Punctuality
Moments Matter, Attendance Counts
“As Children’s Commissioner, I have made school attendance one of my top priorities because children tell me how much they value their education and want to be in school. Every day counts: when children miss school, it’s not just about missing lessons, it’s also about losing valuable moments spent with their friends and teachers.”
– Rachel De Souza, Children’s Commissioner
Expectations
Good attendance and punctuality are essential if a young person is to succeed at the Academy, in fact research shows that there is a direct link between good attendance and academic progress and achievement.
We operate a system of ‘same day’ calling/texting for all absences, ensuring that parents can be confident of our attendance system at the Academy and their child(ren) are safely at school.
Punctuality when attending school is crucial. Lateness to tutor sessions and lessons causes disruption to your child’s learning and the learning of other students in the class. All students are expected to arrive in school by 08:45 in time for AM registration at 09.00.
Morning registration closes at 09.20, students who arrive after this time without an acceptable reason will be marked as unauthorised late.
How Oasis Academy Brislington supports Outstanding Attendance
We work closely with parents and students to celebrate outstanding attendance. We offer a brilliant range of rewards for students with 97% or above attendance, 100% attendance and also improved attendance. Our rewards include inflatable mania, vouchers, sweets, prize draws, certificates, BCP points on a weekly basis, which can be cashed in for rewards, and much more!
Oasis Brislington monitors attendance by the Diamond, so students are aware of the colour banding.
Oasis Academy Brislington works closely with parents to support outstanding attendance, this is in the form of regular communication from tutors, 360 year team managers, Student Progress Leaders and the Attendance Officer.
If your child is unwell
We would not expect any parent to send their child to school if they are genuinely unwell. However, there are many occasions where students might start the day feeling unwell but they ‘perk up’ during the course of the day – sending them to school is the right cause of action. We will always contact you if they become too unwell to stay. Please contact the school to report that your child is unwell. We can help you to determine whether they should stay at home or come into school.
Medical Absences
If your child is going to be absent for 3 consecutive days we would request medical evidence to support the absence. If your child’s attendance is already being monitored (and you have been made aware of this) you may be required to provide evidence for every absence.
Term Time Leave
Students have 175 non-school days each year to spend on family time and appointments and we ask that you not take time out from school if these events can take place during the scheduled holidays. Students who are taken out of school during term time may find it hard to catch up and this can have a detrimental effect on their learning.
The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 subsequently AMENDED Regulations September 2023 makes clear that Principals may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances, according to DfE guidelines. This means that parents do not have the right to take their children out of school for holidays during term time. Any request for term time leave must be made in writing to the Principal at least 2 weeks in advance of the first day of absence.
Any unauthorised absence, including term time leave not agreed with the school, could result in a Penalty Notice being issued to each child for every child affected. Oasis Academy Brislington will request a Penalty Notice, if students take an unauthorised holiday during term time. It is not the school’s responsibility to issue work during term time leave as your child should be attending the school.
Applications for leave of absense must be made using the Application for Leave of Absence Form and submitted to our Receptionist at the academy main reception.
Referrals to the Education Welfare Service
If a student’s attendance continues to be of concern, then the OCL Attendance policy procedures will start.Continued unauthorised absence will result in a referral being made to the Attendance & Welfare Support Service at the Local Authority. This could result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued or the case could be considered by the Local Authority for prosecution.
How much is a Penalty Notice?
£80 if payment is made within 21 days, £160 if paid after this but within 28 days.
If payment is not made, the local authority is required to commence proceedings in the Magistrates Court for the original offence of unauthorised absence by your child. If proven, this can result in fines and/or a range of disposals such as Parenting Orders or Community Sentences. Criminal records may be received.
If a second penalty fine is issued to the same parent for the same child within a 3-year rolling period, the fine will automatically rise to £160 with no option to pay the lower rate of £80.
If a parent then commits a third offence in a 3-year rolling period, the local authority will need to consider other enforcement options available to them.
Click HERE to view the Education Penalty Notice Leaflet
If you have questions regarding your child’s attendance at Oasis Brislington please contact:
Mrs Tracey Dorgan (Attendance Officer); Tracey.Dogan@oasisbrislington.org
OR
Mrs Natasha Robinson (Vice Principal); Natasha.Robinson@oasisbrislington.org
For our Attendance Policy please see HERE