Attendance and Punctuality
School Attendance
Attendance at Oasis Academy John Williams
At Oasis Academy John Williams, attendance is about much more than being in school. It is about belonging, wellbeing, safeguarding and giving every young person the best opportunity to succeed. When students attend regularly, they build strong relationships, develop positive habits and achieve better outcomes.
Every Day Counts
We expect all students to attend school every day and arrive on time. Good attendance supports learning, wellbeing and friendships, and helps young people access the full range of opportunities school offers. Nationally, good attendance is considered to be 95% or above, and our ambition is for every child to achieve this or better. Even small reductions in attendance can have a significant impact on learning over time.
Attendance |
Number of Days Missed |
Number of Weeks Missed |
95-100% |
0-10 days |
0-2 weeks |
90-95% |
10-19 days |
2-4 weeks |
85-90% |
19-29 days |
4-6 weeks |
Below 85% |
More than 30 days |
More than 6 weeks |
As attendance falls, the amount of learning missed increases significantly, making it harder for young people to keep up with learning, maintain friendships and fully participate in school life. Every day really does count.
When Absence is Necessary
Children should only be absent when they are genuinely unwell. Wherever possible, medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours. Family holidays during term time cannot normally be authorised and may result in penalty notices.
How We Support Attendance
We take a supportive, staged approach to attendance, working closely with families to identify and overcome barriers as early as possible. Our approach is based on support first, with formal action only considered when all other avenues have been exhausted.
Stage 1: Early Concern
We identify emerging patterns of absence or lateness and contact families to understand any concerns and offer early support.
Stage 2: Attendance Support Plan
Where attendance does not improve, we work with families to create a personalised plan, supported by a named member of staff, to help improve attendance.
Stage 3: Formal Escalation
If concerns continue, senior leaders and external agencies may become involved. Support remains in place, alongside clear expectations for improvement.
Stage 4: Legal Intervention (Last Resort)
Where all previous support has been unsuccessful, the Education Welfare Service may become involved and legal action may be considered. This is always a last resort and never comes as a surprise to families.
Working in Partnership
Families can help by making attendance a priority, establishing strong routines at home, and communicating with us early if difficulties arise. If you are concerned about your child's attendance, please get in touch. We are here to help.
Legal Sanctions
The school can apply to the local authority for a fine to be issued to parents/carers for the unauthorised absence of their child from school. A penalty notice is an out of court settlement which is intended to change behaviour without the need for criminal prosecution.
Only 2 penalty notices can be issued to the same parent in respect of the same child within a 3 year rolling period and any second notice within that period is charged at a higher rate:
· The first penalty notice issued to a parent in respect of a particular pupil will be charged at £160 if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
· A second penalty notice issued to the same parent in respect of the same pupil is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days.
A third penalty notice cannot be issued to the same parent in respect of the same child within 3 years of the date of issue of the first. If the threshold is met again, prosecution will be considered.
The threshold for a Penalty Notice is 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a rolling period of 10 school weeks. A school day consists of 2 sessions, AM and PM. This can be met with any combination of unauthorised absence (e.g. 4 sessions of holiday taken in term time plus 6 sessions of arriving late after the register closes all within 10 school weeks). These sessions can be consecutive (e.g. 10 sessions of holiday in one week) or not (e.g. 6 sessions of unauthorised absence taken in 1 week and 1 per week for the next 4 weeks). The period of 10 school weeks can also span different terms or school years (e.g. 2 sessions of unauthorised absence in the Summer Term and a further 8 within the Autumn Term.
Need Support?
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's attendance, please contact us via MCAS messenger or email us at jwi.attendance@oasisjohnwilliams.org.
Our key message: Every day really does count. By working together, we can ensure every young person feels safe, belongs and achieves their full potential.