Attendance & Time Keeping

Attendance

Regular attendance helps learners benefit from consistent routines, relationships, therapeutic support and learning opportunities. We ask parents and carers to make sure their child attends school every day and arrives on time.

We recognise that some learners face barriers to attendance linked to SEND, medical needs, anxiety, transport or family circumstances. We work with families and professionals to understand these barriers and support learners to attend school successfully.

If you have any questions or need support with attendance, please contact Shazye Cosar, Attendance Officer, on 01706 764451 or at officeemail@springside.rochdale.sch.uk.

Reporting an absence

If your child is unable to attend, please call the school on 01706 764451 before 9.30am on the first day of absence, or as soon as practically possible. Please tell us the reason, when you expect your child to return, and contact us again on each subsequent day of absence.

If a learner is absent without an explanation, we will contact their family to establish the reason and make sure any necessary support is in place. The school records each morning and afternoon session using the appropriate attendance code.

Appointments and planned absence

Please tell us in advance about medical or dental appointments. Where possible, arrange these outside school hours. If that is not possible, your child should miss only the time needed for the appointment. We may ask for appropriate evidence, such as an appointment card or letter, but will not request medical evidence unnecessarily.

Requests for other absences during term time should be made as far in advance as possible. The headteacher considers each request individually and can grant leave only in the circumstances set out in the attendance regulations, including exceptional circumstances. A family holiday is unlikely to be authorised. Please contact the school office for a leave of absence request form.

Support with attendance

If your child has difficulty attending, please speak to Shazye or a member of the safeguarding team. We will work with you to understand the reasons and agree appropriate support. During a longer absence, we will keep in touch and work with you and relevant professionals to plan your child’s return.

Where attendance remains a concern, we may arrange a meeting with you and, where appropriate, work with the Education Welfare Officer or local authority. Decisions about support and any further action take account of each learner’s needs and circumstances.

You can read our full Attendance Policy for more detail.