| Date Created | Date 1st Review Date | Date Reviewed | Version | Next Review Date |
| June 2024 | June 2025 | |||
| May 2025 | 2 | May 2026 |
Attendance Ethos
At our specialist provision for students with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, we believe that traditional measures of school attendance do not adequately reflect the significant progress and achievements of our pupils.
Many of our students arrive with histories of prolonged non-attendance—often as low as 0%—due to complex mental and physical health challenges. As such, we view any steps toward re-engagement with education as meaningful success.
Whilst we are obligated to use statutory attendance codes, rather than using those codes as the primary indicator of progress, we focus on celebrating every individual’s effort to attend, however small, whilst recognising the immense personal challenges that they may face. To support this, we implement personalised timetables aimed at gradually increasing attendance in a way that protects and prioritises each pupil’s mental wellbeing.
Commitment to Attendance
All the staff of Egham Park School are committed, in partnership with the parents/carers, pupils, and the Advisory Board, to building a happy and safe provision, which in turn serves the community. We will encourage parents/carers to ensure that their children achieve the maximum possible attendance for their personal circumstances, and that any barriers that prevent this are identified, discussed, and that a plan is established.
Expectations
All pupils must:
● Must attend everyday agreed for their own personal circumstances
● Attend punctually as agreed for their own personal circumstances
● Attend appropriately prepared for the day
● Discuss promptly any barriers that may affect their school attendance
All parents/carers will:
● Encourage regular attendance and be aware of their legal responsibilities
● Ensure that their child arrives punctually, and as agreed for their own personal circumstances.
● Ensure that their child attends appropriately prepared for the day
● Ensure that they contact school on the first and every subsequent day of absence or if known in advance, whenever their child is unable to access education
● Contact school promptly whenever any situation occurs that may keep their child out of education
● Notify school immediately of any changes to contact details
● Notify of any home circumstances that might affect the behaviour and learning of their child
Egham Park School will:
● Provide a welcoming atmosphere
● Expect good attendance
● Provide a safe learning environment
● Provide a sympathetic response to any pupil’s or parent/carer’s concerns
● Keep regular and accurate records of AM and PM attendance and punctuality
● Monitor individual pupil’s attendance and punctuality
● Staff will contact parents/carers when a pupil fails to attend and where no message has been received to explain the absence
● Follow up all unexplained absences to obtain explanations from parents:
⮚ By 9.30 in the morning
● Record all absences and reasons
● Regularly inform parents and pupils of their % attendance
● Contact home to notify them of any poor attendance and then jointly meet with the family to plan the route forward
● As a last resort, any placement not being used, where students are not attending regularly or at all, may be terminated.
● Meet the requirements of the UN Convention – The Rights of the Child – by ensuring that whenever possible, pupils are consulted in all the decisions that relate to them
Pupils leaving Egham Park School during the School Day
● Pupils are not allowed to leave the premises without prior permission from the School/Parents/Carers
● Whenever possible, parents/carers should try to arrange medical and other appointments outside of school time
● Parents/carers are requested to confirm in writing the reason for any planned absence
● If a pupil leaves the site without permission their parents/carers and police will be contacted. Should the school be unable to make contact with the family, the emergency contact numbers will be used to contact next of kin.
Punctuality/Lateness
Punctuality in line with the individuals’ agreed plan is important. Lateness can cause disruption to an individual’s learning and to that of the other pupils in the class.
● Pupils are expected to be in school by their agreed time
● Any pupil arriving 20 minutes later of the agree time will be marked in the register as late (L)
● Afternoon registration is at 12.40pm
Leave of absence
● The school holiday dates; external exam dates and INSET days are published a year in advance.
● Permission for leave of absence in term time should be sought from the principal.
Failure to ensure regular school attendance
Continued failure to attend in line with the individual pupil agreement may result in the placement being terminated. Continued placement at Egham Park School is dependent upon parent/carers and pupils making every effort possible to utilise the placement to gain maximum benefit.