Legal Background and Parental Responsibilities
The policy regarding school attendance has been developed in accordance with legal guidance from the Department for Education. It emphasizes the collaborative efforts of the Jamia, which will work in partnership with staff, students, parents/carers, and support services to promote good attendance and reduce absenteeism.
Legal Framework and Parental Responsibilities
Government Expectations
The government mandates that schools actively promote good attendance and minimize absence, particularly persistent absenteeism. Every pupil is entitled to full-time education, and schools are expected to intervene early when patterns of absence emerge. Parents are legally obligated to ensure that their children of compulsory school age attend school regularly and punctually.
Attendance Guidelines
The government has established a benchmark of 95% attendance for secondary school students. A student can fall below this threshold by missing as little as half a day over a two-week period. The school expects all students to meet or exceed this attendance rate. While there can be various reasons for absences—some unavoidable—parents are encouraged to support the school in ensuring their child’s attendance aligns with both school and governmental expectations.
Monitoring Attendance
The school will closely monitor student attendance and will notify parents if any issues arise. Early intervention is crucial, especially regarding concerns related to bullying or learning difficulties. Collaborative efforts among the school, parents, and students are essential for resolving attendance issues.
Procedures for Absence Management
Authorization of Absences
The authority to authorize rests solely with the Head Teacher. Parents must contact the Head Teacher in writing (via email or mail) at secretary@jamiaalhudaa.com or through other specified methods on the school’s website during working hours prior to any anticipated absence.
Daily Registration Process
Under educational regulations, the school is required to register students twice daily—once in the morning at 8:30 AM and again in the afternoon at 1:30 PM. Students must arrive on time to ensure they are included in both registers. The morning registration not only tracks attendance but also serves as a health and safety measure, such as during fire drills.
Parents receive an annual school calendar detailing expected school days. If a child reports a closure not indicated on this calendar, parents should verify by contacting the school.
Reporting Absences
Parents are responsible for ensuring their child attends school regularly. If a child is unable to attend due to illness, parents must inform the Jamia on the first day of absence via email or telephone. Failure to communicate will result in the assumption that the absence is unauthorized, prompting the school to reach out for clarification.
Upon receiving notification of an absence, the Jamia will determine whether it is authorized or unauthorized based on provided reasons. For medical absences, parents may need to provide supporting documentation such as appointment cards or medical notes.
Unauthorised Absences and Associated Penalties
Unauthorised absences occur when a school finds the reasons provided for a student's absence unsatisfactory. Such absences are considered an offense by the parent, resulting in a fine of £30 per unauthorized day. This fine will take effect from 8:30 AM on the Monday following any weekend or holiday absence. If the fine remains unpaid, it will double each week, capping at a maximum of £300 for each day of unauthorized absence.
The following scenarios typically constitute unauthorized absences:
Shopping for School Supplies: A student misses school to go shopping for clothing or other school-related items.
Celebrating Birthdays: A student does not attend school because it is their birthday or that of a family member.
Family Engagements: A student is absent due to accompanying family members to the airport to greet visiting relatives.
Attending Appointments for Others: A student misses school because they are attending a hospital appointment for another family member.
Late Return from Holidays: A student does not return to school on time due to the family arriving late from a holiday.
Childcare Responsibilities: A student stays home to look after younger siblings.
Incomplete Return from Medical Appointments: A student attends a medical appointment in the morning but fails to return for afternoon classes.
General Holidays or Travel Abroad: Absences taken for vacations or travel without prior authorization.
Absence Without Valid Reason: Any absence where no acceptable reason is provided.
Religious Observances
Absences for religious purposes, such as Umrah, Hajj, or other pilgrimages, will not be authorized during internal or external examination periods. Parents must contact the Head Teacher via email or in writing before making any travel arrangements related to these observances.
Individual Case Review
Each case of unauthorized absence will be reviewed individually to assess its impact on the student’s well-being and academic progress. In cases where authorization is granted, no more than three additional school days will be permitted.
Medical Appointments
While routine medical appointments should ideally be scheduled outside of school hours, if they must occur during school time, parents should notify the Jamia in advance for potential authorization. The Jamia provides Medical Authorisation Cards that parents can use at medical facilities to confirm attendance at appointments.
Parents are encouraged to maintain open communication with the school regarding their child's attendance and any challenges they may face. Together, we can ensure that every student has access to their full educational entitlement.