Attendance
Every child has the right to an education, Article 28 of the UNCRC Rights of the Child.The aim of Viking Primary School’s attendance policy is to enable the school to provide a consistent practice that encourages and facilitates the regular attendance of all pupils. Regular attendance at school is key to steady pupil progress and enjoyment of learning, and for this reason the school is dedicated to ensuring its attendance policy is adhered to as much as is possible.
Viking Primary School takes a whole-school approach to maintaining excellent attendance and it is the joint responsibility of parents, pupils and all staff members to ensure that children are attending school as they should be. We endeavour to work with families to make sure that any problems or circumstances which may lead or be leading to poor attendance are given the right attention and appropriate support.
Legal framework
The Education Act 1996 states that:
The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him/her to receive efficient full-time education suitable —
(a) to his/her age, ability and aptitude, and
(b) to any special educational needs he/she may have,
either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
A person begins to be of compulsory school age —
(a) when he/she attains the age of five, if he/she attains that age on a prescribed day, and
(b) otherwise at the beginning of the prescribed day next following his/her attaining that age.
Prescribed days are 31 August, 31 December and 31 March
A person ceases to be of compulsory school age at the end of the day which is the school leaving date for any calendar year (the last Friday in June) —
(a) if he/she attains the age of 16 after that day but before the beginning of the school year next following,
(b) if he/she attains that age on that day, or
(c) (unless paragraph (a) applies) if that day is the school leaving date next following his/her attaining that age.
Viking Primary School is dedicated to complying with attendance laws set out by the legal framework and the attendance policy accordingly.
Attendance Levels
| Attendance percentage | Number of school days missed across the whole year | Learning hours lost | Possible outcome | |
| Excellent | 100%, 99% | Up to 2 days | Up to 10 hours | Pupils with this attendance should achieve the best grades they can and will give them a good start in life. |
| Good | 98%, 97%, 96% | Up to 6 days | Up to 30 hours | |
| Satisfactory | 95% - 94% | Up to 10 days | Up to 50 hours | Pupils with this attendance are becoming less likely to achieve their target grades and are well prepared for secondary school. |
| Unsatisfactory | 93% - 86% | Up to 27 days | Up to 135 hours | Pupils are missing a month of school per year and are likely to fall behind. It will be more difficult for them to achieve their best. |
| Serious cause for concern | 85% or less | More than 28 days | More than 140 hours | Pupils are missing 6 weeks of school (half a term). It will be difficult for them to achieve their best and referral to the Local Authority Targeted Support will be made. |
The LA can issue a fine to you if you do not get your child to school. As a parent/carer it is your responsibility to do this.
Give your child the start in life they deserve & bring them to school.