Attendance
Research shows that pupils who attend school regularly achieve higher grades than those who do not. Also, for a child in care, school can be the only constant in their life.
The Virtual School, therefore, is committed to every child in care receiving a full time education.
To help achieve this, the Virtual School has a full time Attendance and Inclusion Coordinator who:
- monitors the attendance and transition of children in care, using data from Welfare Call
- supports parents, carers and social workers in accessing appropriate educational provision children in care
- supports carers, pupils and schools in achieving regular school attendance
- offers support and advice to carers, social workers, schools and pupils on all aspects of school attendance and admission
If you have queries on any aspect of school attendance with children in care please contact Haringey Virtual School's Attendance and Inclusion Policy for Looked After Children or contact our Attendance and Inclusion Coordinator on 020 8489 2440.
Did you Know?
- 90% Attendance is equal to one session per week of absence
- 4 weeks missed every year over 5 secondary school years is equal to half a school year
- Research suggests that 17 days absence in one school year will result in a DROP in a GCSE Grade
- A two week holiday is a loss of 50 lessons and an attendance level of 94%
For information on the effects of absence and late arrival at school see the attendance statistics page.
Coming to school everyday on time matters!
Holidays in Term Time
- Pupils who miss 2 weeks of school in a year miss 5% of their education
- By taking holidays during term time, pupils miss not only vital parts of their education, but other social and sporting activities
- It can be extremely hard for a pupil to catch up on missed work
The Head of Service for Children in Care and the Virtual School Head have to be in agreement before a child in care is taken out of school during term time.
Additional reading
- Admissions Attendance and Inclusion Policy for Looked After Children 2020-21 (PDF, 205KB)
- School absence, attendance and your child (external link)