Punctuality - Parents remain responsible for their child’s punctuality. Pupils should arrive at school at 8.25am, to start school at 8.30am. 

Good punctuality is a prerequisite to good learning and shows respect between pupils, family, and school.   

Parents remain responsible for their child’s punctuality at the start of the school day. Arriving late to school consistently can have longer-term academic effects. Late arrivals are disruptive to the whole class and often embarrassing for the child.  If showing up late to school becomes a habit, children may develop the notion that lateness is acceptable behaviour. This belief can negatively impact their future work ethic and employment opportunities. 

Arrival after the close of registration (8.50am), where there is not an acceptable reason, such as a medical appointment, pupils will be marked as a missed session; unauthorised absence code ‘U’ in line with the DfE guidance. The U code has the value of an unauthorised absence.  

When late arrivals are frequent or persistent, we will want to discuss this with you to assess what support or guidance you or your child may need. A referral may also be made to the Local Authority Attendance Service and or other external partners for additional support and monitoring. 

Authorised Absence 

Some absences are allowed by law and are known as “authorised absences”.  That is when the school accepts the reason given for absence. 

We realise that there are rare and unavoidable occasions when there might be a particular problem that causes your child to be absent, such as sudden bereavement, unexpected parental illness, or a family crisis. If this happens, please let us know and we shall try to deal with the matter sympathetically. 

Unauthorised Absence   

There are times when children are absent for reasons, which are not permitted by law. These are known as “unauthorised absences”.  Examples of unauthorised absence are: 

• Waiting for a delivery or repair 

• Going for a family day out / Going shopping 

• Because you have visitors 

• Because you did not know school was open 

•  Interpreting or supporting a parent at a meeting 

• Sleeping in after a late night  

• Because it is your child’s birthday 

• Parent’s illness (other than in an emergency) 

• Where there is no explanation for an absence, or the school considers the reason given for the absence as unsatisfactory. 

• Absence following or prior to a period of school closure (at the end and beginnings of terms and half terms) or following a period of authorised leave, unless satisfactory evidence to justify this has been provided 

• Term time holiday 

Appointments  

Medical, dental and other essential appointments for a pupil should take place outside of school hours where this is reasonably possible. 

Where an appointment must take place during school time, the pupil should attend school for as much of the day as possible. 

For the time absent from the school to be marked as unauthorised, confirmation of the appointment by way of an appointment card or letter must be provided. 

Where a pupil is to be absent from school without prior permission, the parent/carer should inform the school by emailing attendance@featherstonehigh.ealing.sch.uk on the first day of the first absence and informing the school when they expect the child to return. 

Or report your child's absence daily by contacting the Attendance Line on 020 8843 0984, ext. 280. Parent/Carer must leave a voice message after the tone so it is important to speak clearly and give the following information: 

• Full name of your child,  

• Year Group,  

• Tutor Group  

• Reason for illness (saying the child is unwell or has a cold is not a good enough reason) 

In the event of an unavoidable prolonged absence, the parent/ carer must contact the school again on the third day of absence to provide an update on the continued absence and the expected return date. Proof of absence may be necessary, this also applies before or after a school closure. 

In certain circumstances, such as hospital stays where there is an educational facility in the hospital, the school may arrange for off-site education in coordination with the relevant providers. 

On the sixth day of absence, a medical letter or certificate will be necessary for sickness absences lasting longer than 5 school days. 

Amendments to the 2006 School Attendance Regulations make it clear that a Headteacher may not grant any leave of absence during term time for holidays. Leave of absence is only granted in exceptional circumstances (e.g., if there is an emergency) at the discretion of the Headteacher and in accordance with the school policy as agreed by the governing body. There is no entitlement to time off during term time. 

Only in an exceptional circumstance will term time leave be considered.  All leave is granted at the Headteacher’s decision. Parents wishing to apply for leave of absence need to complete an application form well in advance and before booking tickets or making travel arrangements (forms are available on Operoo). Parents sometimes confuse ‘telling’ the school as being good enough; this is not so. 

If you are leaving the area or changing schools, please complete a Leavers Form (available by request from the school office - attendance@featherstonehigh.ealing.sch.uk or at the bottom of this page).  Schools and the local authority are obliged to track pupils from school to school, even if they are leaving to live abroad. Follow-up enquiries on inadequate information can be intrusive. As well as calls, enquiries include unannounced visits to your given address. 

• Give the school comprehensive information about your plans, including any date of a move, your new address and telephone numbers, who your child will be living with and your child’s new school and the start date when known. This should be submitted to our school in writing. A Leavers Form is available from the school office, which you should complete. (A destination country or another named Local Authority without other details is not sufficient). 

• When a child leaves and we do not have information about where they have gone/will be educated, then he/she is considered to be a ‘Child Missing Education’. This means that the Local Authority has a legal duty to carry out investigations, which will include liaising with Ealing Children's Integrated Response Service (formerly Social Services), the Police, benefits/council tax records and other agencies, to try to locate your child. By giving us the above information, these investigations can be avoided.