Attendance

At Northfields Infants and Nursery School, regular and punctual attendance is crucial to ensure that all pupils make the most of their education. We are committed to working with parents and carers to support consistent attendance. Our policies are in line with the Hertfordshire County Council guidelines, which highlight the importance of regular school attendance and the limitations around taking leave during term time.

Why Attendance Matters

Good attendance ensures that pupils:

  • Develop strong relationships with their peers and teachers.
  • Keep up with the curriculum, avoiding gaps in their learning.
  • Experience a positive learning environment that builds confidence and independence.

The government expects pupils to attend school regularly, with a minimum attendance target of 96%. Absence can significantly impact your child’s progress and academic success.

Reporting Absences

If your child is unable to attend school due to illness or another valid reason, please notify the school office as soon as possible. You can contact us by phone (01462 623388), via the Arbor app or email (admin@northfields.herts.sch.uk).

For safeguarding reasons, it is important to inform the school on the first day of absence and provide updates if the absence continues for more than one day. If we do not hear from you, we are required to make contact to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your child. This may include the Headteacher and a senior colleague performing a welfare check.

Medical Appointments

We ask that all routine medical appointments, such as dental check-ups, are made outside of school hours whenever possible. If an appointment during school hours is unavoidable, please inform the school in advance and provide proof of the appointment (e.g. an appointment card or letter).

Leave in Term Time

In line with Hertfordshire County Council guidance, leave during term time is not permitted unless there are exceptional circumstances. Family holidays, birthdays, or other non-urgent matters do not fall under this category. Absence for such reasons will be marked as unauthorised.

Exceptional circumstances may include:

  • Significant family events (e.g., bereavement, or weddings of immediate family members).
  • Religious observances.

Parents and carers are required to submit a leave request via the online form found in the Parent Forms section of our website (TAP HERE) at least four weeks in advance of the planned absence. Each case will be considered individually, and we may ask for additional evidence (e.g. proof of travel arrangements or event invitations).

Penalty Notices for Unauthorised Absence

A new National Framework for Penalty Notices for school absence, including unauthorised holiday absence, is being introduced following changes to the law. These new Government regulations will come into effect from 19 August 2024. It will affect when penalty notices are issued in Hertfordshire.

Penalty Notice Fines are issued to each parent, for each child that was absent. For example: 3 siblings absent for term time leave, would result in each parent receiving 3 separate fines. Parent refers to anyone with parental responsibility and may include carers, step-parents, grandparents or any other adult with parental responsibility.

What are the changes?

There is a new national threshold of 10 unauthorised sessions for any reason (equivalent to 5 school days) within a rolling 10 school week period for when a penalty notice must be considered. The new rules mean you will no longer be able to take your child out of school for one week’s holiday without a penalty notice being issued.

  • There will be an increase in the penalty fine from £60 to £80 if paid in 21 days. If the fine is not paid by the first 21 days, it will rise to £160 if paid within 28 days of being issued.
  • If a second penalty fine is issued to the same parent for the same child within a 3-year rolling period, the fine will automatically rise to £160 with no option to pay the lower rate of £80.
  • If a parent then commits a third offence in a 3-year rolling period, the local authority will need to consider other enforcement options available to them.

For more information, including FAQs, please read the newsletter dated 9th September 2024 and the guidance for parents/carers from Herts County Council HERE. Finally, read our Attendance Policy HERE.