The Department for Education has issued very strict guidelines about the parents' responsibility for ensuring their children's attendance at school, and schools' responsibilities over whether to accept reasons for absence. We ask all parents to pay special attention to these guidelines which are summarised below:

• Parents are required to make sure that their children attend school regularly, that is, on every possible session that the school is open unless the child is sick.
• Parents are responsible for making sure children arrive on time, properly dressed and in a condition to learn.
• Parents are required to inform the school of the reason for a child's absence, normally on the first day.  At Knowles Junior School we will accept a telephone call, a personal visit, or a note.
• The Department for Education has divided absence into two categories: authorised and unauthorised.  Only the school can decide where absence is authorised or unauthorised. Parents whose children consistently have unauthorised absence are liable to prosecution.

Knowles Junior School will normally regard the following absence as authorised:

• Sickness, hospitalisation, attendance for medical/dental appointments which are supported by parental confirmation (note, telephone call)
• Absence due to family bereavement
• Religious festivals that fall during normal school days
• A maximum of ten school days for family holidays.  (We would still prefer these to be taken in school holiday periods.)

The following absences we will normally treat as unauthorised:

• Any absence without accompanying parental confirmation (ie note, telephone call etc.)
• Absence to look after a brother or sister
• Shopping expeditions
• Birthdays
• Annual holiday in excess of ten school days
• Airport visits

We must stress that these are the normal rules we shall apply but we are always willing to make exceptions in special cases, if parents contact the school beforehand.

We do have families that request extended holidays, longer than the period we can authorise.  In these circumstances, the child will be taken off role, and will have to reapply for a place on their return.  There is no guarantee that a place will be available.

We do reward good attenders with certificates, showing their achievement.  Pupils who gain 100% attendance over the year are rewarded with prizes.

Regular attendance at school is very important.  Most parents believe this.  Please do your best to ensure your child registers no unauthorised absence during a school year.

ATTENDANCE FIGURES FOR 2006/2007 FOR KNOWLES JUNIOR SCHOOL