Attendance

We take attendance very seriously. Your child’s absence and lateness is monitored closely, as a significant amount of absence or lateness can impact their progress academically and socially.

We request that all parents phone or let the school office know if your child has to miss time off school for illness or any other reason.

If your child's attendance drops below 95%, you will need to provide evidence to authorise any time off your child has from school. We encourage medical appointments to be made outside school hours. You will need to provide evidence of the appointment for the school to authorise this absence.

We strongly recommend that holidays are taken during half-term breaks or school holidays. We do not authorise any holiday requests during term time. If you require time off for any reason during term time, such as a family emergency, you'll need to complete the absence report form below; a paper version can also be obtained from the school office.

Please note: If your request is refused and the child is taken out of school nonetheless, this will be considered an unauthorised absence and could result in a fine being issued to each parent for each child: any absence that is taken without permission will be marked as unauthorised.

Penalty Notices

Per parent, per child:

Penalty notice fines will now be issued to each parent, for each child that was absent. For example: 3 siblings absent for term time leave would result in each parent receiving 3 separate fines.

First offence:

The first time a penalty notice is issued for term time leave or irregular attendance the amount will be £160 per parent per child paid within 28 days. Reduced to £80 per parent per child if paid within 21 days.

Second offence (within 3 years):

The second time a penalty notice is issued for term time leave or irregular attendance the amount will be £160 per parent per child paid within 28 days.

Third offence and any further offences (within 3 years):

The third time a penalty notice is issued for term time leave or irregular attendance a penalty notice will not be issued, and the case will be presented straight to the Magistrate's Court.

Magistrate's fines can be up to £2500 per parent, per child. Cases found guilty in Magistrate's Court can show on the parents' future DBS certificate due to failure to safeguard a child's education.

5 consecutive days of term time leave:

Penalty notice fines will be issued for term time leave of 5 or more consecutive days. Inset training days are school days and can be included in the 5 or more consecutive days where there was intent to be absent for term time leave.

10 sessions of unauthorised absence in 10-week period:

Penalty notices fines will be considered when there has been 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10-week period.

For further information, see the Attendance Policy on our policy page.

Online absence request form

Regular and consistent attendance at school is essential. Absence and lateness disrupt a child’s education. The law does not grant parents an automatic right to take their child out of school during term time. By law, you must request permission from the Headteacher for your child to miss school for any reason. This form is to be completed and returned to school by the parent/carer 4 weeks before the period of absence, if possible.

The Headteacher may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. When possible for such exceptional circumstances, evidence should be provided. A family holiday is NOT classed as exceptional circumstances.

All evidence including proof of flight tickets must be submitted alongside this form via the school office or to info@kilburngrangeschool.org.uk. It is also requested to parents to complete a separate form for each child.