The Department for Education has published new guidance (19th August 2024) regarding school attendance, including Education Penalty Notices.

Ashford Park takes great pride in building 'Positive Relationships' with all parents and pupils.  Mutually respectful and positive relationships enable us to understand, support and improve attendance.  All our pupils need to feel ready and safe in school, with our curriculum goals being engaging and purposeful for all. 

We constantly strive to build a whole school culture where good attendance is everyone's responsibility.  It is about raising the profile throughout the school community so that there is a shared understanding and ownership of the school, class and individual attendance data. It is also about encouraging conversations, developing a shared, consistent language, explicitly linking attendance to learning. We will continue to raise the profile through planned whole school and class activities, encouraging everyone to lead and model the importance of good attendance.  Good attendance is promoted in our weekly newsletter.  

Attendance is an essential skill for life and for employment. Please work with us as we endeavour to support your children in becoming successful adults and employers/employees in the future.

Our school policy has been updated to reflect the changes.  PLEASE NOTE some of the significant changes that parents need to be aware of below and a reminder that holidays booked within term time, will always be unauthorised unless there is an exceptional reason which has been agreed by the Head Teacher.

• If your child has 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10-week rolling period, you may be issued with a Penalty Notice. These 10 sessions may include any unauthorised absence, including leave in term time and do not have to be consecutive.
• Penalty Notices are increasing to £160 from September 2024. This can be reduced to £80 but only for the first Penalty Notice issued, if paid within 21 days – this reduction does not apply to any subsequent Penalty Notice.
• Any 2^nd Penalty Notice, to the same parent for the same child, issued within three years of the date of the first Penalty Notice will be charged at a flat rate of £160 
• A third Penalty Notice will not be issued within a three-year rolling period, to the same parent for the unauthorised absence of the same child, – alternative action or legal measures will be utilised for subsequent offences.

FAQ’s  

What is PA? 

PA stands for ‘Persistently absent’. This is when your child’s attendance is below 90% 

What is risk of PA? 

Risk of PA is when your child’s attendance is at risk of dropping below 90%- we aim to offer early intervention support at this stage. 

What is an EPN? 

EPN stands for ‘Education penalty notices’
EPN’s are issued for unauthorised absences, this includes term-time holidays. 

What if I just go on holiday and pay the fine? 

EPN’s have now been capped nationally at TWO fines within any 3-year period. After this, other action like a parenting order or prosecution has to be considered-this could mean a fine of up to £2500.

What is an unauthorised absence? 

A child being kept off school unnecessarily or without good reason. A term-time holiday is not a justified reason to take your child out of school.  

What happens if I keep my child off, and the parent doesn't contact the school? 

School will call home to try and obtain a reason for absence. If no reason is provided, school may carry out a visit to your home - this is to check on the welfare of you and your child. 

Is my child too ill for school?

A useful NHS guide