Attendance

At BCPA we expect pupils to attend every day that the school is open unless a reason acceptable to the school is given and we are able to authorise the absence. 

The school day

gates open at 8:40am and close at 8.55am

school ends at 3:15

Registration  

The morning register closes at 9am, after this time a child is considered late to school and should report to the school office. Any child arriving at school after 9am is late and is marked in the class register as “L”. Any child arriving at school after 9.25am will be marked in the school register as “U”. This is unauthorised lateness and counts statistically as an absence for the whole session. 

Reporting Absence 

If your child is unwell, we ask that you telephone the school absence line (01242 673 814) by 8.45am every day of absence. You will need to leave your child’s name, class and reason for absence.  

Children with vomiting and/or diarrhoea should be kept off school for 48 hours after the last incidence of vomiting/diarrhoea. 

Holiday Absence  

Holidays will not be authorised during term-time, and for students of compulsory school age unauthorised holidays may result in a Penalty Notice being issued. BCPA will only authorise a term time holiday request if the reason is believed to meet exceptional circumstances under Government guidelines. Parents must apply in writing to take a child out of school during term time using a holiday request form at least 10 working days prior to the absence.  

Each parent who is liable for the pupil’s offence(s) can be issued with a penalty notice, but this will usually only be the parent/parents who allowed the absence. The payment must be made directly to the local authority, regardless of who issues the notice. If the payment has not been made after 28 days, the local authority can decide whether to prosecute or withdraw the notice. If issued with a first penalty notice, the parent must pay £80 within 21 days, or £160 within 28 days. If a second penalty notice is issued to the same parent in respect of the same pupil, the parent must pay £160 if paid within 28 days. A third penalty notice cannot be issued to the same parent in respect of the same child within 3 years of the date of the issue of the first penalty notice. In a case where the national threshold is met for a third time within those 3 years, prosecution will be sought by the Local Authority. 
 
Persistent absence  

Attendance is monitored regularly by the School Attendance Officer. If a child’s attendance falls below 92% contact will be made with parents to discuss strategies to improve attendance. If persistent absence continues to be a concern parent will be invited into school for an ASP (Attendance Support Plan meeting). During this meeting we will work together to understand and overcome the barriers to attendance and create a plan moving forward. If attendance continues to decline an AIM (attendance improvement meeting) will be held. If no improvement is seen, this will result in the school issuing penalty notices.  

If you would like to discuss your child’s attendance or request support improving attendance for your child, please email Miss Browne (Deputy Headteacher and School Attendance Officer) or Miss Kelly (GLA Pastoral Lead). 

Please Click Here for our Attendance Handbook

Please click here for our Attendance Policy

Please click here for our Request for leave of absence form

Please click here for our holiday warning letter

Please click here for NHS advice about when to keep a sick child off school. 

 Gloucestershire Learning Alliance Policies

 Penalty Notice poster for Parents

 GCC Prosecution for Non-Attendance

Gloucestershire Learning Alliance is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England (Company Number 07690119)