Thomas Telford School
Attendance
All students are required to register by 8.30am. Registers are also taken by teachers during each lesson. If a student does not register or sign in late, and a reason for their absence has not been provided, then they will be recorded as being absent without authorisation and an explanation for this absence will be requested.
We will contact parents of all students who are absent without our knowledge. Late is regarded entering the School gate after 8.27am, as students cannot reasonably be in class ready to work by 8.30am.
Signing In and Out
Students must sign in and out at Reception if they need to be out of school for any reason. To ensure that the register is correct, it is essential that all students sign in if they arrive after 08.30 am.
Illness and Student Absence
Parents should inform the school, as soon as possible on the first day of absence, before 8.30am if a student will be absent due to illness. This should be done by contacting attendance via email attendance@ttsonline.net
Medical and Dental Appointments
If a student has a pre-arranged medical or dental appointment, an email must be sent to attendance@ttsonline.net, prior to the appointment, from the email address which school have registered. Wherever possible, please try to schedule appointments outside of the School day.
If a student’s attendance falls below 90%, they are defined by the Department of Education as ‘persistently absent’. At this level their progress and development may be significantly impaired. The case may be referred to the Local Authority Attendance Support team who will contact the family and offer to visit them at home to address any concerns and offer support.
Leave of Absence
In the unlikely event that a planned absence is required, the following system must be adhered to:
- Students should request a Leave of Absence form from Reception. Alternatively a standard Leave of Absence form can be downloaded from here and a Sporting Act Leave of Absence form can be downloaded from here. This should be completed and returned at least 4 weeks prior to the date of the requested absence.
- Completed forms will be passed to the Headteacher or Personal Tutor (if appropriate) to authorise.
- A letter will be sent home with the decision of the request.
Information about unauthorised leave in term time from the local authority, as well as the LOA request form, can be downloaded below.
Please also refer to the information supplied by Telford & Wrekin Council.
As a school we are asked to inform you that, in line with the national framework for penalty notice’s, 10 sessions of unauthorised absence within 10 school rolling weeks may be subject to a Penalty Notice fine of £160 payable per parent, per child, which can be reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days, but only if it is the first Penalty Notice issued to you from 1st September 2024. If this fine is not paid within 28 days this may lead to Court proceedings which could ultimately result in a criminal record and a fine of up to £2500 and/or an alternative sentence which can include up to three months imprisonment.
If any unauthorised absence results in a second Penalty Notice issued to you within three years of the date of the first one, (from 1st September 2024) a flat rate of £160 will apply. A third Penalty Notice will not be issued within a three-year rolling period. Therefore, alternative action or legal measures will be utilised when the criteria of 10 sessions of unauthorised absences in a 10school week rolling period are met.
