Attendance

The expectation at Park Way Primary School is for every child to have 100% attendance.

At park way school our expected attendance is 100%. Outstanding attendance has immeasurable benefits for children and gives them the best possible opportunity to be successful both academically and pastorally. Your child will achieve better when they come to school on time, all day, every school day.

We understand that children become ill. In these circumstances you must call first thing on the first day of absence and everyday thereafter.

To report your child as absent, please call Attendance on 01622 753651 option 1.

If no-one is available to take your call, please leave a message on the answerphone stating the specific illness that your child has. This is because schools have to notify the Public Health Agency for some illnesses and conditions.

Alternatively, you can email the attendance office at: attendance@park-way.kent.sch.uk

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE LAW REGARDING PENALTY NOTICES FOR UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME) FROM SCHOOL

We need to bring to your attention that a new National Framework for Penalty Notices for school absence, including unauthorised holiday absence, is being introduced following changes to the law.

These new Government regulations came into effect from the 19th of August 2024.

What are the changes?

There will be a new national threshold of 10 unauthorised sessions for any reason (equivalent to 5 school days) within a rolling 10 school week period;
The first time this threshold is met, a penalty notice will be issued. The amount of the fine will be £80 (currently £60) per parent, per child if paid within 21 days. If the fine is not paid by the first 21 days, it will rise to £160 (currently £120) if paid within 28 days of being issued. Any non-payment of the Penalty Notice may be referred to the Magistrates Court;
If within three years, the threshold is met for a second time, the fine will automatically be triggered at the higher rate of £160 per parent, per child. There will be no option to pay the lower rate of £80;
If the threshold is met for a third time in a 3-year rolling period, a Penalty Notice will not be issued. Instead, the case will be presented straight to the Magistrates Court under s.444 of the Education Act (1996) where fines of up to £2500 per parent, per child can be ordered.

Further information on how the new rules may affect you can be found by visiting

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance

Please refer to the term dates on our website when booking a holiday.

Holidays in Term Time

Please be aware that all holiday taken in term time will be unauthorised unless it is in exceptional circumstances. You will be issued with a penalty notice and fined. You need to get permission from the Headteacher, giving at least 2 weeks notice, if you are planning to take your child out of school.

Your child may be allowed to miss school for:

a death in the family or funeral
doctor, hospital or dental appointments where these cannot be made out of school hours
religious observance

Your child will not be allowed to miss school for:

persistent, non-specific illness e.g. unwell, poorly
absence of siblings if other child is ill
shopping trips
waiting in for a delivery
family birthdays
visits from relatives
family outings
not having the correct school uniform
family holidays
oversleeping

If you do not get permission and you take your child out of school, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and your child could be considered a truant.

Lateness

Being late can:

disrupt lessons
affect achievement
embarrass and upset your child

Being late adds up to loss of learning:

5 minutes late every day adds up to 3 days lost each year.
10 minutes adds up to 6 days lost each year.
15 minutes adds up to 10 days lost each year (2 weeks).
20 minutes adds up to 13 days lost each year.
30 minutes adds up to 19 days lost each year.

Being on time means not missing out!

Click here to be redirected to our policy page to read our attendance policy.