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School Attendance and Absence Policy and Guidelines

Clackmannanshire Council is committed to working with parents, children and other agencies to ensure that all children enrolled at its schools attend regularly.

All children are likely to be absent from school at some time in their school career. However, persistent poor attendance is disruptive to the individual and to the work of the class and may be an early warning of other difficulties.

Where there are genuine reasons for non-attendance, the authority will work with agencies to ensure that the child’s education is continued by means other than school attendance.

The Council’s and school’s staff overwhelming concern is for the welfare of children. Parents who fail to secure an adequate education for their children, for example by failing to secure regular attendance are in breach of their statutory duty.

Unfortunately, some absences may be condoned or even actively encouraged by parents. This is not acceptable and where this is found to be the case, the Authority will use all powers at its disposal to ensure that children attend school regularly.

The procedures that the Council and school have put in place are aimed at ensuring the welfare of all its pupils. Parents are asked to help by co-operating with these procedures.

Clackmannanshire Council actively discourages taking children out of school during term-time for family holidays because of the disruption that it causes to the education of individuals and class groups. Schools cannot give parents permission to do this and, except in the most exceptional of circumstances, such absences will be treated as unauthorised. However, it is helpful for schools to know of such absences in advance and schools may be able to offer advice to you on projects that your child can undertake while on holiday that will promote learning while the child is out of school.

Further information for parents can be found in the "Attendance and Punctuality" pages for primary and special schools and secondary schools.

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