Parents and carers play a vital role in ensuring that children attend school regularly and benefit fully from their education. Good attendance helps children to learn, feel confident, and achieve their best.

At Brownlow Fold School, we work closely with families to promote good attendance and to understand and address any barriers that may affect a child’s ability to attend school. We believe that attendance improves most effectively through early support, open communication, and strong partnerships between school and home.

Where attendance concerns continue despite appropriate support, the school works with the local authority to ensure families receive further guidance and help. The local authority’s Early Intervention Service supports schools and families and, where necessary, undertakes attendance enforcement in line with national guidance. Enforcement action is not a first response and is only considered after sustained support has been offered.

Our priority is always to work positively with families to help every child attend school regularly and succeed.

At Brownlow Fold School, all pupils are expected to attend school regularly and on time. Good attendance helps pupils learn well, build friendships, and engage fully in school life.

Pupils are expected to:

• Attend school every day and arrive punctually
• Be ready to learn and take a positive part in school life
• Report to the main office if they arrive late
• Remain on the school premises during the school day unless permission has been given
• Accept support and guidance if attendance becomes difficult

If a pupil experiences attendance difficulties, they will be supported sensitively and appropriately. Pupils are encouraged to talk to a trusted adult about any worries or barriers to attending school. Where needed, parents and carers will be contacted so that school and home can work together to find solutions.

We recognise and celebrate good and improved attendance and punctuality, and our approach always focuses on removing barriers, supporting wellbeing, and helping every pupil to feel positive about coming to school

Under the Education Act 1996 (Section 7), parents and carers have the primary responsibility for ensuring that children of compulsory school age receive a suitable education through regular school attendance.

At Brownlow Fold School, we believe that the best outcomes for children are achieved when school and families work together. If a child’s attendance becomes a concern, parents and carers are expected to work in partnership with the school to identify and address any barriers to attendance at the earliest opportunity.

A pupil’s absence will be recorded as unauthorised until a satisfactory explanation is provided by a parent or carer. Where a pupil is absent and no contact has been made, this will be treated as a welfare concern, and the school will take appropriate steps to ensure the child is safe. This may include contacting parents and, where necessary, working with external agencies, in line with safeguarding procedures.

Parents and carers will be informed promptly if concerns arise regarding their child’s attendance. Medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours wherever possible, to minimise disruption to learning.

What We Ask of Parents and Carers

Parents and carers are expected to:

• Work in partnership with the school, putting the best interests of the child first
• Take an active interest in their child’s school life
• Ensure their child attends school every day and arrives on time
• Notify the school of any absence on the first day, and maintain contact if the absence continues
• For periods of continuous illness, contact the school each day to confirm the child’s absence
• Inform the school in advance of any request for leave of absence using the appropriate school form
• Provide evidence for medical or dental appointments where requested
• Arrange extended leave during school holiday periods wherever possible
• Attend meetings and respond promptly to communication from the school regarding attendance

Parents and carers are responsible for:

• Ensuring their child attends school regularly and punctually
• Informing the school of the reason for any absence on the first day and maintaining contact throughout the absence
• Working positively with the school to address attendance concerns and support improvement

Brownlow Fold School is committed to a supportive and inclusive approach to attendance. We prioritise early communication, understanding individual circumstances, and offering help where needed. Enforcement action, including penalty notices, is not a first response and will only be considered in line with national guidance where sustained support has not led to improvement, or where absence relates to an unauthorised holiday.

Our shared aim is to ensure every child attend school regularly, feels supported, and is able to achieve their full potential.

Staff will encourage good attendance and punctuality through personal example. Attendance is the responsibility of all school staff, not just the teaching staff. The school will employ a range of strategies (see below) to encourage good attendance and punctuality and will investigate any absence, liaising closely with parents. Staff will respond to all absence consistently and in line with the school policy.

Accurate and timely registration is essential to safeguarding pupils, monitoring attendance, and promoting good punctuality at Brownlow Fold School

Registration Times:

Attendance registers are taken twice each day:

• Morning registration: 8:50am
• Afternoon registration: 1:15pm

Registers close at:

• 9:15am (morning)
• 1:25pm (afternoon)

Arriving Late to School

If a pupil arrives at school late, they must report to the main office. Parents and carers will be asked to sign their child in and provide a reason for the late arrival. Pupils arriving late will be recorded accordingly and issued with a late card.

How Attendance Is Recorded:

For each pupil, the register is marked to show whether they are:

• Present in school
• Taking part in an approved educational activity away from the school site
• Absent

Where a pupil is absent, the register will show whether the absence is authorised or unauthorised, in line with Department for Education regulations.

Attendance registers are monitored daily by the school’s administration team. Attendance data is reviewed regularly to identify pupils who may be causing concern or who show emerging patterns of absence or lateness.

Staff remain alert to any unusual or concerning attendance patterns and report these promptly. Where concerns are identified, they are escalated to the attendance lead and, where appropriate, the designated safeguarding lead or headteacher, in line with safeguarding procedures. Any concerns are followed up in partnership with parents and, where necessary, the local authority or other relevant services.

 Lateness at a Glance

Please help your child arrive on time every day.

🟢 Arrives before the register closes

• Marked late but present
• Recorded using the L code
• Parent/carer must sign in at the main office
• Not counted as an absence

🟠 Arrives after the register closes

• Marked absent for that session
• Recorded as unauthorised absence (U code)
• Parent/carer must sign in at the main office
• Counts as an unauthorised absence

 Important to know

• Repeated lateness is monitored
• Frequent late arrival can affect learning
• Repeated lateness after registers close may lead to further action

If your child is unable to attend school, it is important that you tell the school as soon as possible. Good communication helps us support your child and keep them safe.

Parents and carers have a legal responsibility to make sure children attend school regularly. When a child is absent, the school needs to know the reason so the absence can be recorded correctly

Why We Need to Know

We need the reason for your child’s absence so it can be recorded as:

• Authorised (for example, genuine illness), or
• Unauthorised (for example, an unapproved holiday)

If we do not receive an explanation, we must follow up the absence as part of our safeguarding duty to make sure your child is safe.

How to Report an Absence

Please contact the school on the first day of absence using one of the following options:

📞 Telephone: 01204 333 514

• Press option 1 to report an absence
• Press option 2 to speak to the school office

📧 Email: office@brownlow-fold.bolton.sch.uk

If your child is absent for more than one day, please continue to inform the school each day, unless we have agreed another arrangement with you.

Pupils are expected to attend school for 190 days per academic year, unless there is a valid reason for absence.

Absence is classified as:

• Authorised absence: approved by the school in line with statutory guidance
• Unauthorised absence: not approved by the school

Decisions regarding authorisation are made consistently and in line with the most recent Department for Education guidance.

Brownlow Fold School records attendance and absence in line with the latest Department for Education guidance and statutory attendance regulations. Decisions about whether an absence is authorised or unauthorised are made consistently, fairly, and in the best interests of the pupil, taking account of the individual circumstances of each case.

AUTHORISE ABSENCE

Absence may be authorised where the school is satisfied that there is a genuine and unavoidable reason for the pupil not attending school. This may include:

• Illness or where a pupil is prevented from attending due to unavoidable circumstances
• Leave of absence granted by the headteacher in exceptional circumstances
• Absence for religious observance recognised by the religious body to which the pupil’s parent or carer belongs
• Family bereavement or other significant family circumstances
• Attendance at an interview or examination for admission to another school or educational provision
• Circumstances where the local authority has not made suitable transport arrangements for a pupil entitled to free school transport

UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE

Absence will be recorded as unauthorised where the school is not satisfied that the reason for absence is acceptable or where required procedures have not been followed. This includes:

• Family holidays or leave of absence taken during term time without the school’s permission
• Absence where no explanation is provided, or where the explanation is considered unsatisfactory
• Pupils kept at home to care for siblings or to undertake domestic responsibilities, except in exceptional circumstances
• Absence for shopping or leisure activities during school hours
• Absence for special occasions that are not considered exceptional, such as birthdays

N.B: Medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours wherever possible

There is no automatic right for parents or carers to take children out of school during term time.

In line with statutory guidance, leave of absence during term time will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, and the decision rests with the headteacher. Parents and carers must submit a leave of absence request in advance, using the school’s request form, before any holiday is booked.

When considering a request, the headteacher will take account of the individual circumstances of the case, which may include:

• The pupil’s attendance history
• The age of the pupil and their stage of education
• The timing of the request, including whether it coincides with assessments or examinations
• The nature and purpose of the request, including whether the circumstances are exceptional
• Any relevant family or compassionate circumstances

If leave of absence is not granted and the holiday is taken, or if a pupil remains absent for longer than agreed, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

Penalty Notices for Unauthorised Holidays

Unauthorised holidays may result in the school requesting a penalty notice from the local authority, in line with the national penalty notice framework.

Under this framework:

• A penalty notice may be issued where a pupil has at least 10 sessions (five school days) of unauthorised absence
• The first penalty notice issued to a parent in respect of a particular pupil will be charged at £160 if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
• A second penalty notice issued to the same parent in respect of the same pupil is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days
• A third penalty notice cannot be issued to the same parent in respect of the same child within 3 years of the date of issue of the first. In a case where the national threshold is met for a third time (or subsequent times) within those 3 years, alternative action should be taken instead. This will often include considering prosecution.
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Penalty notices are not used as a first response. The school always seeks to work with families and offer support, unless the absence relates to an unauthorised holiday.

Our School Position

We actively discourage holidays during term time. Pupils attend school for 190 days per academic year, while weekends and school holidays provide substantial opportunities for family time outside the school term.

With a limited number of school days each year, regular attendance is essential to ensure continuity of learning, strong progress, and positive wellbeing. We ask parents and carers to make every effort to arrange holidays outside term time and to support their child’s regular attendance at school.

The school is committed to working openly and respectfully with families, communicating decisions clearly, and ensuring that pupils’ education, wellbeing, and long-term outcomes remain the priority at all times.

At Brownlow Fold School, we use a supportive, step-by-step approach to help pupils attend school regularly. We focus on early support, understanding what may be making attendance difficult, and working closely with families.

There are no fixed attendance percentages that automatically move a child to the next stage. Decisions are based on attendance patterns, emerging concerns, and individual circumstances.

Stage 1: Universal Support (For All Pupils)

This stage applies to every child and focuses on building positive attendance habits.

We:

• Create a welcoming, inclusive school where attendance is valued
• Share clear attendance expectations with pupils and families
• Monitor attendance and punctuality every day
• Use attendance information to spot early signs of concern
• Celebrate good and improved attendance

Most attendance concerns are resolved at this stage through positive relationships and clear communication.

Stage 2: Early Intervention and Targeted Support

This stage is used when a pupil shows early patterns of absence or lateness.

We:

• Contact parents and carers to discuss concerns
• Meet with families to understand any barriers to attendance
• Agree short-term, achievable actions to improve attendance
• Offer practical support, advice, or signposting
• Monitor progress closely and keep in regular contact

This support aims to stop attendance concerns from becoming ongoing.

Stage 3: Intensive Support and Multi-Agency Working

This stage is used when attendance does not improve despite earlier support, or where concerns are more serious.

We may:

• Involve the attendance lead and senior leaders
• Put a more formal attendance support plan in place
• Consider an Early Help Assessment
• Work with the local authority and other agencies
• Refer to specialist services where needed

Where necessary, and in line with national guidance, enforcement action may be considered. This is not a first step and only happens after support has been offered.

Safeguarding and Vulnerable Pupils

At every stage:

• Attendance concerns are treated as a safeguarding matter
• Pupils with additional needs, medical conditions, or vulnerabilities receive appropriate support
• Decisions are made carefully and recorded accurately

Review and Monitoring

Movement between stages is based on:

• Attendance patterns over time
• Engagement with agreed support
• The impact of interventions

Attendance information and the effectiveness of support are reviewed regularly by senior leaders and governors to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.

Our aim is always to work flexibly and positively with families so that every pupil feels supported and able to attend school regularly.