COUGHTON C of E SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 14

Welcome! Questionnaires 10th May Thank you to all of the chil- I have attached a ques- dren, parents, staff and gov- tionnaire regarding the ernors for welcoming me so school that I would be Monday 13th– Friday 17th May positively to Coughton Pri- grateful if you could com- Y6 SATs week - Oak mary School. It has been an plete and return by Friday class incredible start to the Sum- 24th May. I am keen to mer Term with lots of amaz- Ash showed fantastic collab- involve parents/carers Thursday 23rd May ing work having already oration when designing and and family members in School open to pupils been produced. making toys using natural providing feedback on as normal—European I will be hosting a ‘Meet The elections materials found in the for- key areas of the school. Head’ event on Wednesday est. “I made a musical in- Please answer honestly to 27th May– 31st May 22nd May at 6.30pm in the strument for Maple to play enable me to identify Half Term hall if you would like to with” . strengths and areas that come along to get to know a we can develop. Monday 3rd June little more about me and my Summer Term dates INSET day– school ambitions for the school. I Attached to this newsletter Holiday Requests closed would also like to welcome are all of the key dates for As many of you are Thursday 13th June Mrs Lappin and Mrs Mills to the Summer Term for your aware, the rules for re- New Reception Par- the school community, they diaries. questing holidays ents meeting will be teaching Willow class SATS changed significantly in this term. We wish all of our Y6 pupils September 2013. All holi- Wednesday 26th and Forest school in Oak class good luck in Thursday 27th June day requests will now be A reminder that the classes their SATs next week. What- Studley High School unauthorised unless the Induction Day doing forest school this term ever happens we will be circumstances are will be: proud of you! deemed exceptional by Monday– Birch Thursday 27th June the Executive Headteach- Alcester , Tuesday– Oak A reminder for parents of er and Head of School. AGS, Henley High in- Wednesday - Ash pupils in Oak that children duction days Should you wish to re- will be provided with a quest leave of absence for breakfast in school at Thursday 27th June you child(ren) please re- 8.15am each day next Moving up day– each quest a form from the class to their new week. office, giving as much teacher– Y6 to second- Polling station information for the rea- ary school On 23rd May the school will be used as a polling station sons as possible. More 1st-5th July for the European elections. information regarding this Values week is on Page 2 of this news- We will continue to stay letter and can also be Wednesday 3rd July open as we did on May 2nd, Sports day Please ensure you have your and in previous years. If you found on our website. forest school kit on the cor- have a child in Maple, Birch rect day. or Ash then hot meals will Many thanks for all of Last week Oak class enjoyed continue to be provided your support. Please con- creating Coughton Court should you wish. If you have tact me via the office if Follow using natural materials. “I a child in Acer, Willow or you have any matters that us on really enjoyed making the Oak then please bring a you wish to discuss. Twitter court as I was able to use packed lunch on that day. the resources that I had Loose change prize @CoughtonPrimary found for the design” Congratulations to Ash class Mr Alex Kolb Birch class enjoyed going on for winning the loose change Head of School a Bear Hunt at Forest prize. Your total of £76.95 school. “The swirling, whirl- was fantastic . Total raised ing snowstorm was my fa- was £317 well done! vourite part”. Or like our facebook page

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LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME UPDATED INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

The Supreme Court recently reached a decision in the case of Platt v Isle of Wight Council which has clarified the law on unauthorised leave, including holidays, during term time. The parents of children of compulsory school age are required to ensure that they attend school on a regular basis. The Supreme Court has made clear that attending school ‘regularly’ means that the children must attend school on every day that they are required to do so. As such, the parents of any child who is absent from school without authorisation for any length of time are likely to be considered as committing an offence under s444 of the Education Act 1996. Head Teachers retain the ability to authorise leave in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) () Regulations 2006. When considering such requests for a leave of absence, the school are obliged to act within the law. Head Teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application. If the leave is granted, head teachers are able to determine the num- ber of school days a child can be absent for. It is for the Head Teacher to decide what is ‘exceptional’ and it is at their discretion if the circumstances warrant the leave to be granted. The school can only consider Leave of Absence requests which are made by the ‘resident’ parent.

Each application for a leave of absence will be considered on a case by case basis and on its own merits. Where applications for leave of absence are made in advance and refused, the child will be required to be in school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence, which may result in legal action being taken against the parent(s), by way of a Fixed Pen- alty Notice. Failure to make an application for leave in advance can also result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued to the parent(s).

All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a Leave of Absence will be referred to the Attend- ance Service, part of Warwickshire County Council. It is important to note, Fixed Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example 2 chil- dren and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices in the amount of £120 each, totalling £240 for both children, this is reduced to £60 per child if paid within 21 days). Where a Fixed Penalty Notice is not paid within the required timeframe as set out on the notice, the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal proceedings under S444 Education Act 1996. Fixed Penalty Notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Council’s Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices.

Your child’s progress academically as well as socially is our shared priority

Warwickshire Primary School pupils recorded 29,703 half day sessions of absence due to holiday in the Autumn/Spring term during the academic year 2017/18. This is an increase of 6,256 on the previous year.