Education Welfare Service School Attendance

 Is your child in school today?
Suffolk Education Welfare Service
Working in Partnership with Parents  

Promoting good school attendance
Your child's education is their future.  Parents have a responsibility to support this however they can.
Parents are asked to inform school on the first day of absence

• Children with minor illness should be encouraged to attend school.
• When a child is absent without good reason, parents can be prosecuted in court.
• Only a school can authorise an absence.
• Each school has an Education Welfare Officer to assist in attendance matters.  He or she can be contacted through the school... they are there to help.
• A minority of children truant from school, some are absent with parental knowledge!
• Children who fall ill at school will be looked after and parents contacted, if necessary.
• Reasons such as shopping trip or birthday, are not deemed acceptable reasons for absence.
• It is a legal requirement that your children are punctual each day.

Acceptable reasons for absence:

• Illness of a child
• Dental or medical appointment
• Other circumstances, eg bereavement of a relative
• Day of religious observation

Support your child in school

Most children enjoy school and attend daily.  When a child misses school there is usually a reason, such as bullying, not completing homework, dislike of certain lessons or peer pressure to truant.

What can parents do to help?

• Avoid taking holidays during term time.
• Establish good habits early on, such as punctuality and regular attendance.
• Take an active interest in your child's schooling.
• Check homework is completed.
• Ensure your children have their books and PE kit.
• Inform school on the first day of absence.  Staff will be concerned if they do not hear from you.
• Try to keep absences to a minimum.  Make sure your child understands that you do not approve of him or her missing school.
• Encourage them to take part in school clubs, sports and other activities.
• Establish the habit of speaking to your child.

If you are worried speak to your school now or contact the Education Welfare Office on the contact numbers above.