Attendance and Punctuality
OCL Graduated Response to Attendance
At Oasis Community Learning (OCL) we understand the importance of a relational approach to attendance and have implemented a graduated response to attendance using four waves of support. At each Wave all stakeholders including students, parents/carers, school staff, the local authority and outside agencies are made aware of their expectation for each wave of support.
Attendance Graduated Response Model - January 2025
Why is attendance important?
Every day a child comes to school, they benefit from:
- 5 hours of learning
- At least 50 minutes of time with friends
- The chance to build relationships with other students and key adults
- Ongoing support to develop communication skills that are important for their future
By attending school regularly, a child also learns valuable life skills, including:
- Responsibility
- Self-organisation
- Time management
- Self-discipline
When students miss school regularly, it can negatively affect their learning, including their GCSE grades by the end of Year 11. Regular attendance helps them succeed and ensures they don’t miss out on the social aspects of school life.
Daily Routines
Breakfast Club
A breakfast club is a vital resource for students, ensuring they have a positive and focused start to their day. Many students face challenges at home that may prevent them from having breakfast before school, whether due to financial limitations or busy family routines. The breakfast club addresses this need by providing a space where students can gather and begin their day with a sense of belonging. This early gathering helps improve attendance, encourages social interaction, and promotes a more productive school environment, setting a positive tone for the rest of the day’s activities.
At Oasis Academy Mayfield our breakfast club opens every school day from 8.10 – 8.25am.
Please see menu below.
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Payment for breakfast club will be taken via the My Child At School app Please note a student’s Free School Meal allowance is not available to spend at this time.
Uniform
Uniforms play a significant role in school attendance by fostering a sense of equality and discipline among students. When students wear the same uniform, it eliminates distractions related to fashion and social comparisons, allowing them to focus more on their education. Uniforms also create a sense of belonging and pride, which can increase motivation to attend school regularly.
Please see the link below for more information regarding Oasis Academy Mayfield’s uniform: Uniform - Oasis Academy Mayfield
School day
The school day starts at 8.35am and ends at 3pm
Morning registers close at 9.05am
Students must arrive by 8:25 am to ensure they are ready to begin the school day on time. Punctuality is key as it helps students start the day focused, minimizes disruptions, and allows them to fully engage in their learning.
If a student arrives after this, they will receive an L code and be expected to complete a reflection at the end of the day.
If a student arrives after 9:05 am, they will receive a U code, meaning their attendance will not be recognized for the morning session, which will impact their overall attendance record.
The school day ends at 3:00 pm, but there are many after-school activities available for students to participate in, offering opportunities to explore new interests, build skills, and stay active beyond the classroom.
Please see the link below for more details on the structure of the school day: Academy Day - Oasis Academy Mayfield
Senior Attendance Champion
The Senior Attendance Champion is Andrea Willis, and they can be contacted by email (andrea.willis@oasismayfield.org) or phone (023 8032 8128). The role of the Senior Attendance Champion is important in promoting that attendance is everyone's business. You can contact the Senior Attendance Champion or a member of their attendance team if you need support with helping your child to attend school regularly. The attendance team will be able to identify barriers to attendance and support you with the difficulties you or child are encountering.
Reporting an Absence / Attendance-related matter
Absences or attendance related matters must be reported each day via the academy phone line (023 8032 8128 option 1) prior to 08:45. If you wish to leave a message for the attendance team select option 2.
Encourage your child to be resilient on unwell days and administer paracetamol where possible. Absences for Coughs, sore throats or feeling sick may not be authorised.
In order to maximise individual achievement, parents should avoid making routine appointments for students during the Academy day.
Attendance for all students is compulsory, and parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school regularly. Any absence without good reason will be treated as unauthorised and can lead to a Penalty Notice from Southampton Council and home visits from the Mayfield Attendance Team.
Leave of Absence in Term Time
Applications for leave of absence must be made using the Application for Leave of Absence Form and submitted to our Receptionist at the academy main reception. This form should be completed to enable the Principal to decide whether to authorise the application for leave.
The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 subsequently AMENDED Regulations September 2013 makes clear that Principals may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
If the leave is taken without the authorisation of the Principal, a Penalty Notice will be issued.
Penalty Notices
Please see the link below for the new Department of Education National Framework for Penalty Notices issued due to unauthorised absence that have taken place after 19th August 2024.
What happens when attendance is good?
At Oasis Academy Mayfield we aim for all students to be attending the academy for at least 97% each academic year.
To reward good or better attendance we have a number of attendance reward systems.
The tiered reward system will follow at Oasis Academy Mayfield are as follows…
Weekly awards - for ‘good’ attendance – positive class chart points that will accumulate through the academic year. Opportunity to earn and spend Mayfield Pounds at our Attendance Reward Shop.
Half termly Awards – celebration of 100% attendance during assemblies. In it to win it days, with opportunity to win vouchers.
Termly - Raffle – tickets awarded for 100% or improved attendance - opportunity for students to win a number of prizes, such as £100 Amazon Voucher, Lap top, Air pods. A range of different attendance awards, such as most improved. Opportunity to go on rewards trip
Our attendance rewards are inclusive and all students have opportunities to win attendance prizes or awards (students with absence due to medical - these days will count as not a possible attendance so will not prevent them from winning attendance awards).
What is Persistent Absent and Severely Absent attendance?
Children who are registered at a school but regularly fail to turn up are officially referred to as being ‘persistently’ or ‘severely’ absent.
The school day is split into two sessions – one session counts as a morning or afternoon spent in school. Pupils who have missed more than 10% of school sessions are considered persistently absent, while children who have missed more than 50% of school sessions are referred to as severely absent.
It’s encouraging that the number of absent pupils has fallen since the pandemic, but there is still work to do. That is why we’re introducing measures to improve school attendance.
How can parents/carers support in improving school attendance?
- Do not book holidays in term time.
- Make medical appointments after your child has had the morning or afternoon attendance mark and always return to school afterwards.
- Do not take your child out of school unless in exceptional circumstances.
- Always ring the school to let us know where your child is and why they are absent.
- If your child has been ill, encourage them to attend as soon as they are fit and able.
- Be punctual and set good routines, as persistent lateness will affect their attendance.
For a Parent/Carer Summary about the above policy on registration, attendance and holidays in term time including related facts on the impact of absence, please click here: Academy Attendance Document. This is given to all new students on admission to Oasis Academy Mayfield.