Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School - Attendance and Punctuality Information

Every School Day Matters

Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School aims to work in collaboration with students and parents/carers to ensure regular school attendance and excellent punctuality. Young people learn new things every day and can quickly become behind their peers in their learning and socially, if they are absent from school.

175 non school days each year = 175 days to spend on family time, visits, holidays, shopping, seeing friends, household jobs and other appointments.

0 Days Absence 190 Days of Education Each Year	8 Days Absence 182 Days of Education Each Year	11.5 Days Absence 178.5 Days of Education Each Year	15 Days Absence 175 Days of Education Each Year	19 Days Absence 171 Days of Education Each Year	29 Days Absence 161 Days of Education Each Year
100%	96%	94%	92%	90%	85%
Good Best chance of success		Worrying Less chance of success		Serious Concern Real barrier to success

The School Day

8.50am	Warning bell rings for students to go to Mentor Time or Assembly.
9.00am	Bell rings to signal the start of Mentor Time or Assembly. (If a student arrives after 9.00am they will be marked at late).
9.15am	Start of Lesson 1.
10.15am	Start of break time.
10.30am	Start of Lesson 2.
11:30am	Start of Lesson 3.
12:30pm	Start of Lunchtime.
1:20pm	Bell rings for students to start moving to their lesson.
1:30pm	Start of Lesson 4.
2:30pm	Start of Lesson 5.
3:30 pm	End of School Day

Absence from school

If a student is going to be absent from school or late to school parents/ carers must contact school before 8:30am. This must be done on the first day of absence and everyday of absence thereafter. Parents/carers must contact school and give a reason, along with the name of their children.

The phone numbers below are available 24 hours per day and have a voicemail option.

House	Absence Line Phone Number	House	Absence Line Phone Number
Baggaley	01246 581137	Gosforth	01246 581120
Buxton	01246 581138	Millican	01246 581118
Fanshawe	01246 581119	Spaven	01246 581131

If a parent/carer has not contacted Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School to explain their child’s absence, they will receive a text message requesting a reason why their child is absent. If there is no response this can be followed up with a phone call or home visit by the School Attendance Officer.

Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School will decide whether to authorise the absence or not. In some cases medical evidence may be required in order to authorise the absence.

Examples of Authorised absence:

Genuine illness
Religious observance
Death of a close family member.

Examples of Unauthorised absence:

Birthday
Tiredness
Refusing to attend school.

Medical Appointments

Ideally medical appointments should be made out of school hours . However, if this is not possible, a copy of the medical appointment letter/text/slip should be provided to Student Services in order for the absence to be authorised.

Requests for Leave of Absence/Holidays in term time.

Holidays must not be taken in term time. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 states that Headteachers should not grant approval for any leave of absence during term-time, including holidays, unless there are exceptional circumstances. If a student does require leave, this request must be made in writing on the school’s request form and returned to school at least a month before the leave is required. If the request does not appear to be exceptional circumstances Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School may request a fixed penalty notice (fine) to be issued by the Local Authority to each parent/carer.

Leave-of-Absence-Form-for-Students Download

Punctuality

Being on time to school is just as important as good attendance. All students are expecting to be on site by 8:50am and in mentor period by 9.00am. Parents/carers should contact school if their child/ren will be late to school and provide a clear reason. Any student arriving after 9am should enter through the main reception and sign in with the member of staff there or at Student Services. Students will be asked why they are late arriving at school. Parents/carers may receive a text message informing them that their child has arrived late to school.

Late marks:

Student arrives between 9.00am –9.15 am, they will be recorded as L (late).

Student arrives after 9.15am, they will be recorded as U (late after the close of registers, this code affects the student’s attendance).

If a student arrives late twice or more in one week they will be issued with a punctuality detention. Punctuality detentions are held every Tuesday morning starting at 8am. If punctuality continues to be a concern parents/carers may be asked into school to discuss the concerns.

Who to speak to

If parents/carers have concerns about their child’s attendance there are a number of people who can be contacted for advice/support. Those members of staff are:

Useful links

Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School – School Policies (dhfs.uk)

https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence