Attendance

The Importance of Attending

Regular attendance is an important part of giving your child the best possible start in life. The aim should be to attend the academy 100% of the time. Education is not purely about academic success and attainment, it's about building a community where every child feels they truly belong. Teachers, peers, support structures and various external factors all contribute to creating a supportive and inclusive school community. Understanding and addressing these factors is crucial in nurturing a positive learning environment for all.

In addition to the benefits of regular attendance upon attainment, the impact upon the longer-term benefits for your child means they can make a positive contribution within the community and have economic well-being.

Academies are the place where you child will learn, where they make friends, find things they are passionate about and talented at. A place that is safe, with adults around them who care about their lives, and that provides routine, structure, and discipline.

We know that irregular attendance can lead the children and young people experiencing poor emotional health and well-being. If your child misses education on a regular basis they can become socially isolated, lack confidence and have low self-esteem, feeling like they do not fit in with their peers, leading to loneliness and isolation. These are not the life outcomes and experiences we want for our children and young people at The GLC.

Who can support you with improving your child's attendance?

Mrs Nyree Pearce, Attendance Officer and Data Manager

Email: nyree.pearce@theglc.org.uk

Phone: 01375 488420

Mrs Claire Whitby, Attendance Ambassador

Email: claire.whitby@theglc.org.uk

Mr Dominic Davison, Attendance Strategic Lead [The GLC Education Welfare Officer]

Email: dominic.davison@theglc.org.uk

Phone: 07506 691942

Responsibilities

Parents are expected to:	We will:	Directors and governing bodies will:	Thurrock Council are expected to:
Ensure their child attends every day the academy is open expect when a salutatory reason applies. Notify the academy as soon as possible when their child has to be unexpectedly absent (e.g. sickness) Only request leave of absence in exceptional circumstances and do so in advance. Book any medical appointments around the academy day where possible.	Have a clear academy attendance policy on the academy website which all staff, pupils and parents/carers understand. Develop and maintain a whole academy culture that promotes the benefits of good attendance Accurately complete admission and attendance registers. Have a robust daily process to follow up absence. Have a dedicated senior leader with overall responsibility for championing and improving attendance.	Take an active role in attendance improvement, support their academy(s) to prioritise attendance, and work together with leaders to set the whole academy cultures. Ensure academy leaders fulfil expectations and statutory duties. Ensure academy staff receive training on attendance.	Have a strategic approach to improving attendance for the whole area and make it a key focus of all frontline council services. Have an academy attendance support team that works with all academies in their area to remove area-wide barriers to attendance. Provide each academy with a name point of contact in the academy attendance support team who can support with queries and advice. Offer opportunities for all academies in the area to share effective practice.