Dear Parent/Carer,

School attendance is being looked at as a priority by Wrexham Council with half-termly meetings with our Local Authority Attendance officer. As a result, we have been monitoring attendance closely since September and issuing the Council's letters as instructed by the Wrexham Council policy.

These are standard template letters, written by the Local Authority, which we have to issue to all pupils who meet the threshold number of absences. A session refers to 0.5 of a school day, so one school day counts as 2 sessions. As the Wrexham policy states that no term time holidays are to be authorised, unless in exceptional circumstances, sessions taken as holidays will also count towards the absent sessions count outlined below.

Wrexham Attendance Procedure:

• Once a pupil hits 10 sessions absence whether authorised or unauthorised Attendance Letter 1 to be sent.

• Once a pupil hits 16 sessions absence whether authorised or unauthorised Attendance Letter 2 to be sent.

• Once a pupil hits 22 sessions absence authorised or unauthorised a phone call is made to the parent/carer by a member of school staff to discuss the attendance concerns. This should be Headteacher or Assistant Headteacher. Record of conversation is kept.

• Once a pupil hits 26 sessions absence whether authorised or unauthorised Attendance Letter 3 to be sent. This requests medical proof for all future absences to be authorised.

• Once a pupils hits 26 sessions Unauthorised absence, a letter is sent arranging a meeting with the parent/carer, School representative and Education Social Worker for an attendance meeting to take place. Referral to ESW made to attend meeting. Consideration to be given to attendance improvement strategies, including the introduction of an Attendance Improvement Plan.

If attendance continues to deteriorate, consideration to be given to implementing legal action – FPN or Prosecution depending on attendance history, level of absence and past compliance.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school should you require more information or help and support with this or any other issue.

Kind regards,

Mr Williams