Attendance

School Attendance

At Darwen St James Academy, we believe every child is entitled to a full-time education that suits their age, ability, and any special educational needs. The best way to encourage good attendance is to make school a happy, welcoming, and rewarding place where children want to be.

Good attendance is directly linked to a child's progress, learning, and overall well-being. We want to work closely with parents and carers to give every child the best possible start in life.

Key Times and Reporting Absences

Morning Registration: School starts promptly at 8:45 am.
Lateness: Children arriving after 8:55 am will be marked as late.
Reporting Absence: If your child is away due to illness, please let the school office know before 8:45 am.

Our Attendance Team

We take a supportive approach to attendance, working closely with families to help overcome any challenges.

Senior Attendance Champion: Miss Peckson
Pupil Wellbeing Coordinator: Miss Evans
School Admin Officer: Mrs Murray

Our team regularly checks attendance and timekeeping. If your child's attendance causes concern, we will contact you to offer help and support.

Leave of Absence During Term Time

Following government rules (Working Together to Improve School Attendance), Headteachers cannot grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

No Automatic Right: Parents do not have the right to take children on holiday during term time.
How to Apply: Applications must be made in advance by the parent the child normally lives with. Please ask the school office for a form and book an appointment to meet with the Headteacher.
Unauthorised Absence: Holidays or leave taken without permission will be marked as unauthorised.

Penalty Notices

Under Department for Education rules, unauthorised absences—including term-time holidays—may result in a fine (Penalty Notice) issued by the Local Authority:

The Threshold: A fine must be considered if a child has 10 sessions (5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-week period.
The Cost: Fines are £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days.
Repeat Fines: A second fine given to the same parent for the same child within a 3-year period is £160. A third offence within 3 years cannot be resolved with a fine and will lead straight to court prosecution.

Government Guidance

Read the full government guidance: Working Together to Improve School Attendance (GOV.UK)

Is My Child Too Ill for School?

It can be tricky deciding whether to keep your child off school when they are unwell.

If you decide to keep your child at home, please phone the school office before 8:45 am on the first day of absence to let us know.

When to Keep Your Child at Home

Vomiting and Diarrhoea: Keep your child at home until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 48 hours (2 full days).
High temperature: Keep your child at home until their fever goes away and they feel well enough to return.
Chickenpox: Keep your child at home until all the spots have crusted over (usually 5 days after the spots first appeared).
Impetigo: Keep your child at home until all sores are crusted over, or for 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
Measles: Keep your child at home for at least 4 days from when the rash first appeared. (Please contact your GP before visiting).
Scarlet Fever: Keep your child at home until 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
COVID-19: If your child tests positive, they should stay at home for 3 days after the day of the test.

When Your Child Can Still Come to School

If your child is feeling well enough in themselves, they do not need to stay at home for:

Coughs and Colds: Minor coughs and runny noses are fine (unless accompanied by a high fever).
Conjunctivitis: No need to stay off. Speak to a pharmacist for treatment.
Head Lice and Nits: No need to stay off. Please treat at home.
Cold Sores: No need to stay off. Remind your child not to touch the blister.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: Fine to attend if they feel well enough.
Ringworm: Fine to attend once treatment has started.
Slapped Cheek Syndrome: Fine to attend once the rash appears, as they are no longer infectious.
Threadworms: Fine to attend. Speak to a pharmacist for treatment.

School Worries and Anxiety

It is normal for children to feel anxious about school sometimes. Avoiding school can actually make anxiety worse.

If your child is feeling worried or complaining of minor tummy aches related to stress, please speak to us. We will work together with you to support your child and help them feel safe and happy at school.

Find information and advice about how to help children with anxiety