Attendance at Murray Park School

At Murray Park, we carefully monitor attendance and punctuality. You may be aware that students whose attendance falls below 95% suffer a major impact to their learning and those with poor attendance are far less likely to achieve their expected levels of attainment. In light of this, you are asked to take steps to ensure your child attends school every day. Absences soon mount up ā€“ see the impact of time off over one year:

Students with below 90% absence will be referred to the Education Welfare Service and they may wish to contact you to discuss issues and ways to improve attendance.Ā 

Absences matter and you can help

We will write to all parents if their child has been off more than the average amount of absence time for the school cohort. The letter will inform them of the number of days their son/daughter has not attended. Whilst the absences may have been authorised, we know that parents want to support their child in their education and the School in encouraging their son/daughter to good attendance. If you receive a letter please speak to your child about their attendance and if there are issues we can help you with please talk to your childā€™s form tutor or Head of Year. We do not want any student to feel they are falling behind due to absence.

Important – Reporting Absences

If your child is too ill to attend school please contact the School absence line on (01332) 515921 option 1 before 9.30am or alternatively email us at student.services@murraypark.derby.sch.uk Please state:

  • Child’s full name & form.
  • The reason for absence.
  • The date(s) your child(ren) will be absent
  • When you expect they will return to the School

This should be repeated for every day of illness, then a note from parent/carer explaining the period of absence should be handed to the Form Tutor on the day of return to school.

Time Off During Term

Medical and Dental Appointments

We ask that, wherever possible, medical/dental appointments be made outside of the normal school day. Where this is unavoidable the appointment card (or letter from parent/carer) should be shown to the Form Tutor or shown to Student Services staff no later than the previous school day, wherever possible. Alternatively, you can leave a message on the absence line for the Attendance Administrator. We ask that you return your child to school immediately after the appointment, unless lessons are finished for the day.

Holidays

There is no automatic right of absence for a family holiday: this is in accordance with Government Policy. If you wish to take your child out of school for a day of religious observance, you will also need to complete a leave of absence form.

Your Support.

We appreciate your support in keeping us informed promptly of any absences from school. If there are any issues regarding attendance that you would like to discuss with the school, please either contact your child’s Head of Year or the Attendance Administrator.

Following our full return to school in 2021, we fully appreciate that some children and young people may be experiencing feelings such as anxiety, stress or low mood as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and lockdowns.

There are online resources available to help you and your child with mental health, including:

It is also vital to report any safeguarding concerns you have about any child. Contact theĀ NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000Ā orĀ Barnardoā€™s support service (https://www.barnardos.org.uk/see-hear-respond)