Wharfedale Montessori School is committed to ensuring all pupils fulfil their potential; attendance at school during term time is a key element in achieving this. It is our statutory duty to:
- promote good attendance and reduce absence, including persistent absence
- ensure every pupil has access to full-time education to which they are entitled
- act early to address patterns of absence
- parents to perform their legal duty by ensuring their children of compulsory school age who are registered at school attend regularly
- all pupils to be punctual to their lessons
Requests for leave of absence during term time can be made by contacting the school office via email. A form must be completed requesting authorisation at least 14 days prior to the proposed time of absence. A period of leave will only be authorised during term time in exceptional circumstances.
Our approach to ensuring good attendance is to make this a happy, inviting and nurturing school that children want to come to every day. If this is not happening, we will not blame the child – we will look at what we can do to make it a more inviting place for them. We are aware of our statutory duty, but are also aware of our moral duty to make school a place where children feel welcome.
We do not reward 100% attendance, and children with lower attendance will not be excluded from any school events. We appreciate that anyone can become ill, and that a supportive and community driven approach to inclusion for all is a better approach for children.
