Truancy

The School Attendance Improvement Service provides specialist support and advice to schools, families and pupils on all matters relating to attendance.

All Oldham schools have an Attendance Officer or Adviser who ensures consistency of service to schools in each ward.

Unacceptable reasons for absence

• Shopping
• Birthday treats and trips looking after others at home
• Non-urgent medical or dental appointments

Expected attendance level

The Department for Children, Schools and Families expects all students to achieve an attendance level of at least 95 percent in every school year and individual schools generally expect a much higher level.

Authorised absence

If your child is ill or unable to attend school for some reason, you need to contact the school by telephone and/or letter to inform them. The school will then "authorise" this absence.

Unauthorised absence

If your child has been away from school for three days (in some schools even sooner) without any parental contact, the school may contact you either by phone or by sending a letter to ascertain the reason for your child’s absence.

Such a letter could draw your attention to the fact that your child has been missing school without a reason. Such absence will be recorded as "unauthorised" absence from school and it is unauthorised absence from school which carries with it the risk of prosecution.

The School Attendance Improvement Services can prosecute parents and issue penalty notices in cases of unauthorised absence.