Attendance Matters at Weston!

School Attendance and Penalty Notice Information

At Weston Primary School, we are committed to supporting every child’s right to a full and effective education. Regular school attendance is essential for your child’s learning, wellbeing, and long-term success. As such, we are writing to remind all parents and carers about the importance of attendance and the legal responsibilities regarding unauthorised absences.

Attendance Expectations

The Government expects that:

• Children attend school every day the school is open unless a reason is provided and accepted.

• Parents ensure children arrive on time and are properly equipped to learn.

• Absences are kept to an absolute minimum.

Authorised vs Unauthorised Absence

Absence from school will only be authorised under exceptional circumstances, such as:

• Medical appointments (with evidence)

• Illness

• Bereavement

• Religious observance (approved dates only)

Holidays during term time are not authorised, except in truly exceptional cases.

If a request for leave is not approved and the child is absent, the absence will be marked as unauthorised.

Lateness

A pupil who arrives late:

·        Before the register has closed will be marked as late, using the appropriate code

·        After the register has closed will be marked as absent, using the appropriate code

·        If a child arrives late after registration for more than 10 sessions (5 days) in each half term then consideration will be given to the issue of Penalty Notice Warning Letter.  This will be issued by the Local Authority.

·        Lateness and Punctuality cases will be referred to the school’s LA Education Welfare Officer.

Legal Framework and Penalty Notices

In accordance with the Education Act 1996, parents/carers have a legal duty to ensure their child attends school regularly. When a child has a minimum of 10 sessions (equivalent to 5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a 10-week period, the school is required to notify the Local Authority, who may issue a Penalty Notice.

As of 2025, the charges for a penalty notice are:

• £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days.

• £160 per parent, per child if paid after 21 days but within 28 days.

Failure to pay a Penalty Notice may result in further legal action, including prosecution.

Working Together

We understand that occasional absence may be unavoidable. If your child is struggling to attend school regularly or if you are experiencing difficulties, please contact us as soon as possible. We are here to work with families to support good attendance and ensure every child achieves their potential.