Attendance & Absence
It is our duty as staff at Saracens Bell Lane to support our pupils’ learning and to help each child achieve their full potential.
The school staff, alongside the Local Authority, firmly believes that all pupils benefit from regular school attendance. We know that every missed day can have a serious impact on children’s attainment and overall progress.
As a staff, we do all we can to encourage parents and carers to ensure that the children in our care achieve maximum possible attendance and that any issues preventing full attendance are identified and acted on promptly.
Reporting Absence
If your child is absent from school for any reason, then you must inform the school on the first day of absence by either of the following options:
- TELEPHONING the school office on 0208 203 3115 stating your child’s name, class and reason for absence and then send a note on their return to explain the absence;
- EMAILING the school at office@saracensbl.org stating your child’s name, class and reason for absence.
Leave of Absence
The school holiday dates are published a year in advance, and parents/carers are expected to book their family holidays during those times. Leave of absence will not be granted for holidays during term time.
In exceptional circumstances when leave in term time is unavoidable, a leave of absence request form must be completed as soon as possible. The Head Teacher will decide whether to authorise the absence, having decided whether the circumstances are exceptional.
No parent/carer can demand leave of absence for their child as a right. If leave is taken, without prior authorisation, the child’s absence will be recorded as unauthorised in the school register.
Should absence be taken without the Head Teacher’s authorisation, the case will be referred to Education Welfare and a Penalty Notice may be issued.
Request for term-time leave of absence
Term Time Leave of Absence is very disruptive to your child’s attendance and academic achievement and, in almost all cases, will not be authorised.
The initial decision regarding Leave of Absence will be made by the principal and will be one of the following:
- Authorised – this means that the school has agreed to the absence requested and the reasons given.
- Unauthorised – this means that the school has not agreed to the absence requested and your child’s place in school is at risk. Please note that the Local Authority has a duty to investigate unauthorised absences.
- Unauthorised and removed from roll – if this decision is made, then you will have to re-apply for a school place for your child immediately on returning from the extended absence.
All applications are passed to the London Borough of Barnet.
If you are not satisfied with the school’s decision, you should make your case to the Chair of the Governing Body and a panel of Governors will consider the case.
Thank you for your support in this process, which aims to ensure the best provision for all our children.
