Attendance
ABSENCE LINE: 01652 648276
If your child is going to be absent
Parents/Carers must let the Academy know by 8:30am on every day that their child is absent, unless a period of absence has already been agreed with the Academy.
You can report an absence in one of three ways:
- Call the Kirton Academy Absence Line: 01652 648276 (Option 1).
- Email: attendanceteamka@ad.tollbarmat.co.uk
- Report the absence through the MCAS App
Please state your child’s name, year group and a clear reason for their absence.
The Academy operates a daily absence procedure because knowing where our students are is an important part of Safeguarding. The Attendance Policy requires parents/carers to contact the Academy on each day of illness unless the length of absence has already been agreed.
What happens if we haven't heard from you?
Any unexplained absence will trigger contact home.
If your child is marked absent and we have not received an explanation, the Attendance Team will contact you to establish the reason for the absence and make sure your child is safe and well. The Academy's procedure aims to resolve unexplained absences on the first day.
Where we cannot make contact, or there are concerns about your child's welfare, the matter may be escalated and a home visit may take place.
Home Visits and Safe & Well Checks
Parents/arers should be aware that the Academy carries out home visits as part of its attendance and safeguarding procedures.
A Safe & Well home visit will be made by the third day of absence as a minimum where appropriate. A visit can take place sooner if we have been unable to contact you, your child's whereabouts are unclear, their attendance is already a concern, or there is a safeguarding concern.
The Academy's priorities for home visits include vulnerable students with safeguarding concerns, cases where there has been no contact during Days 1 and 2, and students reaching Day 3 of non-attendance.
Please don't wait for the Academy to contact you. Reporting your child's absence by 8:30am each day helps us know that they are safe and prevents unnecessary calls or visits.
Attendance Matters
Regular attendance gives students the best opportunity to learn, make progress and achieve well. The Academy monitors attendance closely and will contact families when attendance begins to cause concern.
Attendance below 90% is classed as persistent absence in the Academy's current intervention procedure. Where attendance falls, the Academy will work with the student and family to understand barriers, offer support and agree actions to improve attendance.
If attendance does not improve despite support, this can lead to further Attendance Officer intervention, involvement from the Local Authority Education Inclusion Officer and, where appropriate, formal or legal attendance procedures.
Medical Appointments and Illness
Where possible, please arrange routine medical and dental appointments outside of the school day. If this is not possible, students should attend school before or after their appointment so that they miss the minimum amount of learning time. The Academy may ask for appropriate evidence of appointments or illness where attendance is causing concern.
Punctuality
Students should arrive at Kirton Academy by 8:40am, ready for learning to begin at 8:45am. The morning register closes at 9:15am.
Arriving after the register has closed can be recorded as an unauthorised late arrival.
Who is responsible for attendance?
Attendance Lead – Mr R Watson: Oversees attendance across Kirton Academy.
Attendance Officer – Mrs R Redhead: Works directly with students and families, follows up absence and attendance concerns, and carries out Safe & Well/home visits.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) – Mrs L Green: Oversees safeguarding concerns connected with attendance and student welfare.
Attendance is closely linked to safeguarding. If we cannot establish where a student is, or an absence gives us a safeguarding concern, it will not simply be left unresolved. The Academy's current procedure requires staff to make reasonable enquiries and escalate unresolved concerns to the Attendance Lead or senior staff.
The most important thing to remember
If your child is absent, tell us by 8:30am EVERY DAY.
Call: 01652 648276
Email: attendanceteamka@ad.tollbarmat.co.uk
MCAS: Report the absence through the MCAS App
No explanation = we will contact home.
No contact / welfare concern = a home visit may take place.
By day 3 = expect a Safe & Well/home visit where the absence remains a concern.
