Trowse Primary School

Be Safe, Be Happy, Learn!

Pepperpot Drive, Norwich, Norfolk NR14 8TU

01603622485

office@trowse.norfolk.sch.uk

Attendance

By law, all children of compulsory school age (5-16 years) must receive a full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude. Parents are required by law to make sure their children attend school regularly.  If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s attendance, in the first instance please contact your child’s school.
 
Attendance at Trowse is always very good. Parents understand the importance of education and do all they can to ensure their children attend regularly.  For the academic year 2022-23 the attendance percentage was 95.6%. This is against the national figure for primaries of 94%. 

There is a Local Authority Children’s Services attendance team who deal with issues concerning pupils who are not attending school regularly.

Absence

Sometimes it is hard to know if your child is well enough to go to school or not. To help families know what to do for the best, the NHS has produced a web page with lots of specific information for families and carers to use to decide whether you should send your child to school or not. CLICK HERE to access this information.

If your child is going to be absent from school, you should contact your child’s school using the PUPIL ASSET App on the first morning of any absence. Alternatively, you can  phone or e-mail. You should explain the reason for your child’s absence and indicate when you think he or she is likely to return. You should also do this if you child is going to be late.

If you do not notify the school, the school will try and contact you. The school may also decide to record your child’s absence as unauthorised.

You can only allow your child to miss school if:

  • They’re too ill to go in
  • You’ve got advance permission from the school
  • Unavoidable reasons, that you should let the school know about

These types of absence will be 'authorised'. 

 

On the other hand, the list below are examples of 'unauthorised' absences. These may result, if they meet the threshold of absence, in a fixed penalty notice. Taking a week or more holiday for example in term time would meet the threshold. 

  • Term-time holiday
  • Birthdays (theirs or other family members)
  • Shopping
  • Day trips
  • Looking after brothers or sisters or ill relatives
  • Caring for a disabled parent
  • Having their hair cut
  • Special treat
  • Closure of a sibling's school

If a family receive a fixed penalty notice the quickest and easiest way to pay a penalty notice is via the LA website, please visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/payinvoice

 

Missing school

Parents are legally responsible for ensuring that their child attends school regularly, and your child’s school will work with you to improve your child’s attendance. If this is not achieved, the school may refer you to the Children’s Services attendance team, who may issue you with a summons to appear in court. If parents are convicted in court, they may be fined up to £1,000.

In some circumstances, if the parents have knowingly allowed their child to be absent from school, they may be fined up to £2,500 or even sent to prison for 3 months.