Pupil Absence Reporting
At James Rennie School and Sixth Form, we are committed to providing the best possible education for all our pupils. Regular attendance plays a crucial role in ensuring their success, and we appreciate your ongoing support in promoting good attendance and punctuality.
Regular attendance is especially important in a special needs setting, where continuity, routine, and structured support help our pupils thrive. However, we acknowledge that pupils may occasionally need to be absent for justifiable reasons. During these times, we kindly ask for your support in following our safeguarding procedures regarding pupil attendance, which we have outlined below for your reference.
Reporting Absences
We kindly ask that parents or carers notify the school of a pupil’s absence before 8:00 AM on each day of absence, providing the pupil’s name, class, and the reason for their absence. Please call 01228 554280 to report a pupil absence and, if possible, in addition inform the class team via Class dojo.
School Arrival Times
Pupils are expected to arrive between 8:50 AM and 9:10 AM. The school doors close at 9:20 AM, after which pupils must report to the main office via the main entrance. Teachers are in their classrooms by 8:45 AM, and registers are taken promptly.
Unexplained Absences
If a pupil’s absence is not reported and we are unable to establish the reason by 9:30 AM, we will make attempts to contact you in order to establish a reason for absence.
Safeguarding Protocol
If we have been unable to make contact by 11:30 AM, we will follow our safeguarding procedures, which would involve a welfare check through a home visit. All home visits are conducted by two staff members and are recorded in our school systems.
Further Action
If, after a home visit, we are still unable to establish the reason for the absence, we have a responsibility to report the situation to the relevant safeguarding hubs (Cumberland or Westmorland and Furness), depending on the pupil’s home address.
We hope you understand that these procedures are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding should we need to carry out a home visit in the interest of safeguarding.
If there are any barriers to attendance that we can support you with, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to work together to find solutions that meet the needs of your child.
If you would like to discuss attendance further, please feel free to contact us.
Support for pupil attendance
If you are experiencing any barriers to attendance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to work with you to find solutions that support your child’s needs.
The Eden Academy Trust also provides practical guidance to help establish routines, reduce stress, and create a positive, accessible school experience. You can explore their available resources here.