Thursday 1^st February 2024

 Dear Parent/Carer,

I am writing this letter to explain the changes that have been made to the Calderdale attendance protocol. This is a Nationwide Strategy which is being implemented throughout the country. As you know your child’s attendance is extremely important and can significantly affect their attainment and progress and can also affect friendships and relationships. From now on, if your child’s attendance falls below 90% any of the following may take place:

• Referral to children’s social care (any attendance below 50% will be deemed as neglect and Social Care will take this matter further).
• Attendance meeting with a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Education Welfare Involvement.
• A fine for any extended holidays taken during term time or any long periods of unauthorised absence.
• A parent/school contract will be drawn up as part of an agreement which will be signed by both parties and the Local Authority.

 May I take this opportunity to remind you of our First Day Calling procedure. If your child is absent we will contact all of the emergency contacts until we have a reason for the absence. If we fail to make contact with all of the emergency contacts you have provided, a home visit will take place and should we be unsuccessful in this situation, the police will be called to carry out a welfare check.

 Late Marks/Punctuality

The school doors close at 8:45. Any child arriving after this time is recorded as late. Pupils with persistent lateness may also be addressed by the procedures listed above.

Pupils arriving after 9:15am are recorded with a ‘U’ code. This is classed as an unauthorised absence for the session.

Next week (5^th-9^th February) we will be holding a 100% attendance week.

All children who have 100% attendance (marked present for morning and afternoon) will receive a 100% attendance badge.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs. H. Higgs

Headteacher