We value our partnership with parents and careers, which helps to ensure that all children enjoy school life and have a love of learning. We know that the children with the best attendance make the greatest progress and are successful learners. Therefore, at Riverside Academy, we encourage and celebrate good attendance in the following ways:

• Weekly celebration of good attendance in assembly
• Class attendance is shared in the school newsletter 
• A half-termly prize draw for pupils with 97%+ attendance
• Attendance has a high profile in the school on the celebration board
• Pupils receive termly certificates for 100% attendance

Headteachers may grant leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. If the exceptional circumstances are agreed, the Head Teacher will determine the length of the absence authorized.The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 as amended by Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2013 no longer permit headteachers to authorise leave for holidays; Parents may be breaking the law if their children take leave without permission. The local authority and schools have statutory powers to tackle poor school attendance and/or unauthorised absences.

Absence during term time

It is important to talk to the headteacher before a decision to take leave is made and complete and submit an application form at least 6 weeks beforehand.

Unauthorised absence

An unauthorised absence is any absence that the headteacher has not given permission for or where an explanation has not been provided by the parent.

If your request for leave of absence is declined, and you still take your child out of school, each parent within your household will be issued with a £80 penalty notice for each child you have taken out of school. If a penalty notice remains unpaid after 21 days it will increase to £160. If after 28 days it remains unpaid you may be summonsed to appear before Magistrates to explain why your child has unauthorised school absences and you may be liable for a fine of up to £1000.

Click on the link below to see our most recent attendance policy.