Is your child in school today?
Suffolk Education Welfare Service
Working in Partnership with Parents
Parents have a legal responsibility
to make sure that their children receive a full-time education.
Most parents do this by registering their child at a school.
Children registered at school will only reach their maximum
potential if they attend regularly. Parents should support their
child’s attendance at school.
Please remember:
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Children with minor illness should
be encouraged to attend school.
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When a child is absent without good
reason, parents can be prosecuted in court.
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Only a school can authorise an
absence.
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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.
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A minority of children truant from
school, some are absent with parental knowledge.
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Children who fall ill at school will be
looked after and parents contacted, if necessary.
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Reasons such as shopping trip or
birthday, are not deemed acceptable reasons for absence.
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It is a legal requirement that your
children are punctual each day.
Truancy is unauthorised absence. This is absence without good
reason. The law recognises only four reasons for not going to
school. These are:
- Leave has been agreed by the school.
- The child is prevented from attendance because of illness or
other unavoidable cause.
- A day of religious observance in the religion of the
parents.
- The child lives more than 2 miles (for a child under 8 years of
age) or three miles (for a child aged 8 years or over) from the
school and the council has failed to provide transport.
There may be some exceptional circumstances where the school
agrees non-attendance. For example, close family bereavement.
What can parents do to help?
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Avoid taking holidays during term
time.
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Establish good habits early on, such as
punctuality and regular attendance.
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Take an active interest in your child's
schooling.
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Check homework is completed.
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Ensure your children have their books and
PE kit.
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Inform school on the first day of
absence. Staff will be concerned if they do not hear from
you.
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Try to keep absences to a minimum. Make
sure your child understands that you do not approve of him or her
missing school.
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Encourage them to take part in school
clubs, sports and other activities.
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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.