School Attendance and Absence

Consistent and punctual attendance is crucial for children to make the most of their education. Missing school can interrupt learning and significantly affect academic progress. For further information, you may wish to see your school's attendance policy. This should be available on the school's website, or you can ask the school for a copy.
The City of London School Attendance Support Service collaborate with schools in line with guidance from the Department for Education.

Attendance in Early Years settings and school provision
Good attendance is essential for children to take full advantage of the learning and development opportunities available to them in their early years. Children build up the secure attachments they need for healthy development. Unsettled children have higher stress levels which, in turn, prevent them from being able to benefit fully from the learning opportunities available.
Studies show that children who regularly attend Preschool and Early Years settings have better early academic attainment, social-emotional well-being and perform better than their peers at the end of Reception. Therefore, regular and punctual attendance is paramount, so that children have full access to the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum
Sometimes families may need extra support with attendance. The Early Years setting or school will collaborate with you to support your child’s good attendance, punctuality and talk to you about the available support; for example, implementing bedtime routines, supporting you with healthy eating, referrals to Early Help or other support agencies.

Parental role and responsibilities - post 0-5 years old
Parents have a legal responsible to ensure their child receives a suitable full-time education, this is usually from the age of 5 to 16. Most children and young people receive their education in school. Whether you have a child who is transitioning into Reception or Year 6 or you have moved into the area, you may find relevant information
For more information on parental responsibilities and alternative ways in which children may be educated, please refer to the Department for Education’s Guidance for parents on getting your child to school, and the GOV.UK School attendance and absence guidance for parents. 
There may be reasons a child doesn’t want to go to school. Good school attendance starts with close and productive relationships between schools, parents, and pupils, so it's important schools and families work together. If you have concerns about your child’s attendance you should contact the school early to seek their advice and support.

School absence
Each school provides its own guidelines on reporting absence; this can be found in their attendance policy.
Parents should schedule known absences like medical appointments outside school hours whenever possible. If this cannot be avoided, parents must get prior school approval and ensure the pupil misses the least amount of time necessary.
Parents are required to submit requests for leave of absence, such as term-time holidays, in advance. The procedure for requesting leave is outlined in the school attendance policy. Please note that such requests may be authorised or declined. If requests for leave are not authorised and leave is still taken, the School Attendance Support Service may issue a penalty notice. This applies to parents who have children attending The Aldgate School only. The City of London Code of Conduct (doc to be provided) provides details of threshold and process.
If you have received a penalty notice, you can pay your fine by logging in here:   https://cityoflondondap.startraqdome.com/Home/Login

The Department for Education provides a Guide for parents on school attendance that explains parental responsibilities, including situations related to illness absence and requirements for medical evidence.

Child health and impact on education
When a child is unable to attend school due to medical reasons, normally this can be managed between the school and the parent. It is important that parents inform the school of their child’s absence and the reason on the morning of first day absence. The school’s reporting procedure may be found in their attendance policy.

For details and guidance on illness and your child's education, please visit GOV.UK.

If your child is unable to attend school for more than 15 school days due to illness but remains well enough to participate in educational activities, alternative education arrangements may be considered to support their learning. Please request that your school submit a referral to the School Attendance Support Service. Use the referral document in the Downloads section below.

To determine the most appropriate support for your child, the school may request additional information from your child's medical team. However, the school should not delay contacting the School Attendance Support Service due to the absence of information from other agencies or medical teams.

Child who is a City of London resident and attending an out of borough School
It is recognised that many of our resident children attend schools outside of the City of London. If your child is unable to attend, the School Attendance Support Service has a duty to offer support in the following circumstances:
• pupils permanently excluded from school
• pupils with illness lasting 15 days or more, preventing school attendance
• pupils unable to attend school due to pregnancy
• pupils absent from school because of emotionally based school avoidance
• pupils not attending school due to other exceptional circumstances

The School Attendance Support Service may be contacted
Tel: 020 7332 1002
Email: Attendance@cityoflondon.gov.uk