West Thurrock Academy"My school, my community, my best!"

Attendance

As a school we consider attendance and punctuality to be fundamental for maximising achievement and obtaining the greatest benefit from education.  100% certificates are awarded to children who have had no absences during the entire year and many children become proud of their excellent attendance record.

Children who are too ill to come to school or may pass infection to others should not attend. If your child is absent from school, please inform the school by telephone, letter or e-mail on the first day of the absence and provide a note of explanation on the child’s return to school.  The school is required to keep a record of the reasons for all child absence. 

Please remember to cancel your child’s school meal if they have one ordered.

Holidays during term time will not be authorised by the school.  Leave of absence will be exceptionally granted for attendance at medical or dental appointments or for examinations. However, where possible such appointments should be made outside of school hours.

Requests for days off for religious observance will be considered as appropriate.

Exceptional Absence

The headteacher may authorise leave of absence in ‘exceptional circumstances’.  Any requests should be submitted to school in writing well before the proposed absence.  We have strict guidelines and criteria to refer to and holidays in term time cannot be authorised.  Parents need to be aware that all requests may be passed directly to the Education Welfare Officer who will write to the parent if the school does not grant leave of absence. If parents choose to take children out of school without authorisation then the Educational Welfare Officer may issue a fixed penalty notice of £60 per child and per parent in particular circumstances.

Punctuality

All late children must report to the office and sign in.  Repeated lateness is monitored and families causing concern through persistent lateness are referred to the Education Welfare Officer.