Attendance

Regular school attendance is essential for all of our students to make good progress, achieve their academic potential and consequently have better chances in life.  There is a strong connection between attendance and achievement in school.  Absence is proven to have a significant negative impact upon a student's educational attainment.

What is the most important thing you can do?

Ensure your child/ward attends school regularly.  Every student at Laindon Park is expected to maintain an attendance level of 96% and above.  It is the responsibility of everyone in our school community - parents, students, staff and governors to ensure they achieve this.  Therefore, we monitor and review the attendance of all students constantly.

Leave of Absence During Term Time

Taking a child out of school in term time will affect their schooling as much as any other absence and we expect parents to help us by not taking children out in school time.  Leave in term time will not be agreed by the school at any time unless circumstances surrounding the request can be evidenced, by parents/carers, to be exceptional.  Any child taken out of school without permission will have absences recorded in the register as unauthorised and may result in a referal being made to the Education Welfare Service, who may issue a penalty notice to each parent of £60.00 for each child to be paid within 21 days. If the higher penalty is not paid within 28 days, the Education Welfare Service will then instigate legal proceedings against you in the magistrate's court under section 444 of the Education Act 1996 for failing to ensure your child attends school regularly.

 Punctuality

The school day consists of two sessions, morning and afternoon.  Students are expected to be on the school premises no later than 8.55 am.  When lateness is more frequent or persistent the student concerned will miss valuable teaching time, lateness also causes disruption to the class.