Attendance
Our Approach
At Fox Hollies School, we are committed to ensuring that all students attend regularly, feel safe, and are ready to learn.
We recognise that good attendance is essential for learning, development and wellbeing. We also understand that many of our students have complex needs, and that attendance can be affected by a range of factors, including health, anxiety and communication differences. Improving attendance is a shared responsibility, and we focus on building trust, reducing barriers and supporting long-term engagement.
Our approach balances high expectations with understanding and support, working in partnership with families to ensure every student can access education successfully.
We are part of Birmingham’s Inclusive Attendance Programme, which supports schools to take a relational, strengths-based approach. This aligns closely with our values and ensures we focus on understanding and addressing barriers to attendance, while applying statutory guidance consistently.
Our Expectations
Students are expected to attend school every day unless they are unwell or there is an agreed reason for absence
School starts promptly, and students should arrive on time
Families should inform the school as soon as possible if their child is absent
We work closely with families to support regular attendance and will always seek to understand and address any barriers.
Requests for leave of absence during term time will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances are rare and will be considered in line with national guidance.
Reporting an Absence
If your child is absent, please contact the school office as soon as possible on the morning of the absence.
Please provide:
Your child’s name
The reason for absence
Expected return date (if known)
If we do not hear from you, we will contact you to ensure your child is safe.
Our Graduated Approach to Attendance
At Fox Hollies, attendance is supported through a graduated approach, ensuring that support is matched to need and provided at the right time.
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Whole-school approach promoting positive attendance for all students
Early identification of attendance concerns
Consistent routines and expectations supporting engagement
Close communication with families to address emerging barriers
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Ongoing monitoring of attendance patterns
Communication with families to understand barriers
Attendance monitoring and review meetings
Adjustments to support engagement (e.g. routines, transitions, support strategies)
Involvement of pastoral staff and Early Help services where appropriate
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Individual attendance plans
Multi-agency working (e.g. health, social care, external professionals)
Support for students experiencing anxiety or EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance), including personalised and flexible approaches to re-engagement
Ongoing review and adaptation of support
Leave of Absence and Penalty Notices
In line with national guidance, requests for leave of absence during term time will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances.
If a child is absent without authorisation, this may be recorded as an unauthorised absence. In some cases, the Local Authority may issue a penalty notice.
Working in Partnership with Families
As a school, we will always seek to work in partnership with families to understand the reasons for absence and provide support wherever possible.
We believe that strong relationships with families are key to supporting good attendance.
We will:
Work with you to understand any challenges your child is facing
Offer advice, support and signposting where needed
Involve external services where appropriate
Keep communication open and supportive
Safeguarding
Attendance is a key part of our safeguarding approach, and patterns of absence are carefully monitored to ensure all students are safe and supported. If we are concerned about a student’s attendance or are unable to contact a family, we will follow safeguarding procedures to ensure the student is safe.