Attendance Matters
Students who attend school regularly have the best chance of academic and personal success. BFS adopts a support-first approach to attendance. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s attendance, please contact the Attendance Office by emailing admin@bristolfreeschool.org.uk.
Good attendance is 96% or above. Attendance plans or contracts will be used for parents of students with poor attendance.
Illness
If a student is too ill to attend school, this must be reported daily, either through the free app Studybugs or the absence line 0117 9597200 (Option 1).
Please use this NHS guidance to see if your child is well enough to attend school. Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk).
Medical appointments
Routine medical appointments should be made outside of school hours. If an appointment needs to be in school hours, please email admin@bristolfreeschool.org.uk with:
- Student’s name and tutor group
- Date of the appointment
- Time they will be collected and returned to school
- Evidence of the appointment e.g. text reminder / appointment letter.
Students are expected to be in school as much as possible before and after the appointment.
Absence Requests
Families may request leave for EXCEPTIONAL AND UNAVOIDABLE circumstances (e.g. funerals). This should be requested 14 days in advance of the planned leave using the absence request form.
Term-time holidays are not authorised and are highly disruptive to education. Please do not book term-time holidays.
Penalty Notices and Prosecutions
Unauthorised absences and unauthorised lates (late after 9am) may lead to parents receiving a penalty notice fine or prosecution from Bristol City Council.
Penalty Notices from September 2024
Within a three-year rolling period:
- Penalty Notice 1: £80 per parent per child, rising to £160 if not paid before 21 days. Failure to pay within 28 days will lead to prosecution.
- Penalty Notice 2: £160 per parent per child. Failure to pay within 28 days will lead to prosecution.
- Third Offence: A penalty notice cannot be issued for a third offence. Alternative legal measures such as prosecution will be taken.
Prosecutions
Prosecutions will be considered for unpaid penalty notices, 3rd offences within a rolling three-year period or may be used instead of a penalty notice if appropriate (e.g. in cases of poor attendance). Prosecution can lead to fines of up to £2500, or 3-months imprisonment. Persons prosecuted will also have a criminal record.
Attendance Staff
Mr MacBlain (Assistant Head) is our Attendance Leader.
Mrs Stevens is our Attendance Officer.
They may be contacted by emailing admin@bristolfreeschool.org.uk.
