Attendance

Children learn better when they have good attendance at school; this enables them to gain consistency in their routines and activities, and facilitates the opportunities for repetition which are so crucial when over-learning skills, as our pupils often need to do.

We encourage parents to send their children to school unless they are really ill e.g. with a very high temperature or having had sickness or diarrhoea within 48 hours.

We encourage parents to seek medical and other appointments during holiday periods and to try to book family holidays outside term time, though we are mindful of the detrimental effect busy holiday venues can have on pupils with some conditions and are considerate of this.

Our attendance rates have been improving year on year for several years and we would like to see this trend continue.

At Ganton School, we believe that attending school in person is the best way for pupils to access their education, develop social relationships and benefit from the wider opportunities that school provides. In line with Department for Education guidance, remote education is not considered an equal alternative to attendance and will only be used where attendance is not possible and a pupil remains well enough to engage in learning.

Remote education may be considered in exceptional circumstances, including short-term illness, recovery from medical treatment, or where a pupil’s special educational needs, disability or mental health needs are impacting their ability to attend school. Any remote education offer will be considered on an individual basis and, where appropriate, developed in collaboration with families, the Local Authority and other professionals.

Where remote education is agreed, Ganton School will seek to:

• Provide learning which enables pupils to maintain progress within their curriculum.
• Maintain regular contact between home and school.
• Tailor learning approaches to meet individual SEND needs wherever possible.
• Consider the accessibility of online learning and provide alternative resources where necessary.
• Review arrangements regularly with the aim of supporting the pupil’s successful reintegration into school.

For pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), the school will work closely with families and the Local Authority to ensure that statutory duties continue to be met and that reasonable adjustments are considered where appropriate.

Parents and carers who feel their child may require remote education should contact the school directly so that individual circumstances can be discussed and appropriate support considered.