Attendance

At St Bede’s, we believe that good attendance and punctuality are vital in establishing secure routines and a strong culture of learning. Being in school every day and arriving on time helps pupils feel safe, develop positive relationships, and benefit fully from high-quality teaching and the wider life of the school.

Parents and carers have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school regularly, and schools are required to monitor attendance carefully and take action where patterns of absence emerge. We work in close partnership with families to identify concerns early, remove barriers to learning, and support sustained improvement in attendance over time.

We recognise that some pupils, including those with SEND or additional needs, may face specific challenges, and we take an inclusive, flexible approach that prioritises appropriate support and reasonable adjustments.

Please see the attendance policy for further information.

Parents and carers are asked to let the school know the reason for any unplanned absence and illness on the first day of absence, by 9am or as soon as reasonably possible, by contacting the school office on 01724 245 151

A phone call or home visit may take place if we have not received any communication or information to explain an absence.

Absences due to physical or mental illness will normally be recorded as authorised, unless the school has a genuine concern about the reason given. Attending a medical or dental appointment will be counted as authorised as long as the pupil’s parent notifies the school in advance of the appointment.  Parents should inform the school office staff of this in advance and provide an appointment card or give evidence of the appointment text.

However, we encourage parents to make medical and dental appointments out of school hours where possible. Where this is not possible, the pupil should be out of school for the minimum amount of time necessary.

Parents and carers are required to apply in advance for a leave of absence where there are exceptional circumstances. This includes requests for holidays during term time. In line with national guidance, leave of absence requests are not usually granted unless the circumstances are genuinely exceptional. Each request is considered on an individual basis. Further details can be found in the school’s Attendance Policy, and the Leave of Absence Request Form is available to download below.

Application form for leave of absence

If a pupil’s attendance becomes a concern, the school will always take a support-first approach. We use a graduated response, which may include phone calls, letters, home visits and meetings, to understand any barriers to attendance and agree next steps together. Pupils may be placed on an Attendance Support Plan, which is not a criticism but a way of providing clear structure and help. Where appropriate, attendance plans may align with behaviour plans, SEND support plans or other pastoral support, ensuring a coordinated and inclusive approach that promotes sustained improvement over time.

In North Lincolnshire, if a pupil has significant unauthorised absence, including unauthorised term-time holidays, the Local Authority may issue a Penalty Notice as set out in the national framework, which came into effect in September 2024. Under this framework, fines are issued per parent, per child, and the amount depends on how quickly the notice is paid; repeated unauthorised absence may lead to further action in line with statutory guidance. Penalty Notices are intended as an alternative to prosecution to encourage regular attendance, and more information is available in our Attendance Policy and from North Lincolnshire Council’s guidance.

North Lincolnshire Council Guidance

North Lincolnshire Code of Conduct – Issuing of Penalty Notices

We recognise that attendance is a key foundation for pupils to flourish academically, socially and emotionally, and that being in school regularly supports strong routines, positive relationships and access to high-quality teaching. Schools are expected to listen, understand and work with families to identify and remove barriers to attendance rather than simply record absence, and St Bede’s are committed to doing exactly that.

If attendance becomes a concern, our pastoral systems, including our dedicated attendance officer, Heads of Year, SENDCo and pastoral team, are here to help. We want to work in partnership to understand underlying challenges and tailor support. This might be through informal conversations, attendance plans, referrals to school-based support or links with external services.

We also know from research that attending school regularly can reduce anxiety and improve wellbeing over time, because being present helps pupils feel connected, supported and engaged in their learning, and prevents gaps in learning and social isolation that can make anxieties worse.

Please do get in touch if you have any concerns about your child’s attendance; it is often a symptom of something else, and we are here to work with you to support your child’s full participation and success.

Assistant Headteacher for Attendance: Mrs J Jackson

Attendance Officer: Mrs L Ellis

Student Liaison Officer: Mrs M Dulson

Telephone Number: 01724 245151

Email: admin@stbedesscunthorpe.org.uk