Oakfield Primary Academy

Attendance Matters

At Oakfield Primary Academy, attendance matters. Every day out of school is a day of missed opportunity to take another step forward in building the skills and knowledge needed for a bright future. We firmly believe that good attendance is essential to a child's success - both academically and socially. Regular school attendance helps children build positive routines, strengthen relationships and achieve their full potential. 

From August 2024, the Department for Education (DfE) has made the 'Working Together to Improve School Attendance' guidance statutory. This means that schools, local authorities and other key partners are now legally required to follow the expectations set out within the guidance. As a result, Oakfield Primary Academy will follow these processes. 

At Oakfield, we set high expectations for attendance which reflects the legal requirement for children to attend school regularly and the significant role attendance plays in long-term achievement. Please see our Attendance Policy for more detailed information on how we promote and support regular attendance in school.

We understand that children may need to be absent if they are unwell. To help Parents decide when a child should stay at home, the NHS provides a helpful resource: Is my child too ill for school? This guide outlines common symptoms and advises on appropriate action.

 

Attendance support team: 

Mrs Gyselynck, Mrs Samra & Mrs Elward - Attendance Champions

 

Applying for a Leave of Absence

Requests for days out or holidays during term time will rarely be granted, and only where there are exceptional circumstances. Parents will be asked to provide evidence of the exceptional circumstance.

Any leave of absence must be applied for in advance, otherwise the absence will be considered unauthorised. You may collect a leave of absence form from the school office. 

Our school does refer unauthorised absences to the Warwickshire Attendance Team and parents may be issued a fine, per parent.