Attendance

Hartford Junior School is committed to full attendance by all pupils although our target is for all HJS pupils to have an attendance rate of 97% or above. Parents/carers are responsible for ensuring that their children arrive at school on time.

Please note that school starts at 8.50am.

There is clear evidence of the link between attendance and achievement with research showing the showing the negative impact of poor school attendance on a child's attainment and future prospects. Attendance records are sent on a daily basis to the LA.

Absence

However, we understand there are occasions when your child will be unable to attend. 

To report a child's absence please contact the School on 01480 454695 or email office@hartfordjuniorschool.org Please contact us on each day of absence.  If your child has suffered sickness or diarrhoea please keep them off school for 48 hours after the last occurrence.

Department for Education guidance is clear that schools are only allowed to authorise any planned term-time absence in extremely exceptional circumstances, for example a single day for a funeral of a close relative or a medical appointment. Term-time holidays, shopping during school hours, looking after siblings or late arrival do not qualify.

Term time holidays cannot be authorised unless the reason for selecting that date is extreme or exceptional eg. a parent, grandparent or other close relative is seriously ill and the holiday proposed is likely to be the last such holiday or a unique one-off, never-to-be-repeated experience. You must complete a holiday form from our School Office to request any term time holiday. 

Any decision about taking action as a result of non-attendance is made by the Local Authority Attendance Officers (LAAO), as made clear by this extract from the FAQ section of the latest guidance:

Yes. Parents have a legal duty to make sure that their child aged 5-16, if registered at a school, attends that school regularly. If taking an unauthorised term time holiday is grounds for issuing a penalty notice according to the local authority’s code, and if the leave of absence for holiday was not authorised by the school, either the school or the local authority may issue a penalty notice.

No. Only local authorities can make decisions on whether parents should be prosecuted for school attendance offences. All schools (including academies) have a duty to refer regular absence (authorised and unauthorised) to the relevant local authority. This may include any evidence to show how they supported the pupil and parent to improve attendance. It is for each local authority to judge each referral on its own merits and make a decision on the next probable cause of action 

The Education Welfare Officer

The Cam Academy Trust employs an Education Welfare Officer, Rachael Panther. The school and EWO always try to work with pupils and parents at an early stage to resolve problems. This is nearly always successful. However, the EWO also has a legal role and if other ways of resolving attendance have failed, these officers can use legal sanctions such as Penalty Notices or prosecutions in the Magistrates court. Rachael can be contacted via the school reception.

Bringing out the Best in Everyone