Pentrehafod’s Pupil Attendance and Well-Being team (PAWB) support our pupils and families with any pastoral needs. The team of 6 staff are dedicated to supporting our pupils to be happy and confident learners. The PAWB office has an open-door policy and is a safe and secure space for our pupils. Each year group has a well-being officer from PAWB who works closely with the Learning Leader to support pupils’ well-being. These officers are non-teaching members of staff and are available at any time during the school day. Our well-being officers are there to help with a whole range of problems or worries. Some days they may need to lend a sympathetic ear, help resolve arguments between friends, support with uniform issues, help pupils with timetable concerns or communicate with home. Pupils are encouraged to talk through and share any challenges they encounter. No two days are the same, and no worry is too small or too big for them to help support.
Attendance
Regular school attendance is really important in preparing children for success in life. To gain the greatest benefit from their education, pupils should attend school, on time, every day. The whole school attendance target is 95%.
| Percentage Attendance | School Missed in a Year | School Missed in 5 years |
| 97% | 6 days or 1 week 1 day | 30 days or 6 weeks |
| 95% | 10 days or 2 weeks | 50 days or 10 weeks |
| 90% | 20 days or 4 weeks | 100 days or 20 weeks |
| 85% | 30 days or 6 weeks | 150 days or 30 weeks |
| 80% | 39 days or 7 weeks 4 days | 195 days or 39 weeks – one school year |
What we do
At Pentrehafod School, we will contact home by text or phone call on the first day a pupil is absent without an explanation. This helps us to understand why a pupil may be away from school. If we are unable to reach you, then we will visit the home. School will determine if an absence should be authorised or not.
Authorised Absences
Absence will be authorised in the following circumstances:
(a) Where leave has been granted by the school in advance, for example –
· a pupil is to participate in an approved performance for which a licence has been granted by the Local Authority,
· a pupil is involved in an exceptional special occasion – in authorising such an absence the individual circumstances of the particular case and the pupil’s / student’s overall pattern of attendance will be considered,
· in exceptional circumstances, permission has been granted for a family holiday for which the parents have sought permission in advance
(b) where the school is satisfied that the student is too ill to attend;
(c) where the pupil / student has a medical appointment (although parents should be encouraged to make these out of school hours wherever possible, and to return their student to school immediately afterwards – or send him / her to school beforehand;
(d) where there is an unavoidable cause for the absence which is beyond the family’s control, e.g. extreme weather conditions;
(e) the absence occurs on a day exclusively set aside for religious observance by the religious body to which the pupil’s / student’s parents belong;
(f) in other exceptional circumstances (eg a family bereavement) and for a very limited period.
Unauthorised Absences
Except in the circumstances described above, absences will be unauthorised. Some examples of reasons for not authorising absence would be:
· no explanation has been given by the parent; · the school is not satisfied with the explanation;
· the pupil / student is staying at home to mind the house;
· the pupil / student is shopping during school hours;
· the pupil / student is absent for unexceptional reasons, e.g. a birthday;
· the pupil / student is absence from school on a family holiday without prior permission;
· the pupil / student has been stopped during a truancy sweep and is unable (or the parent is unable) to give a satisfactory reason for the absence.
If school any concerns about attendance, a member of the PAWB team will meet with the pupil in an effort to help identify any issues. The PAWB team will also write home and meet with parents/carers if there is no improvement. Our principal focus is to work alongside our families and supporting them and their young people on the school journey).
Pupils are expected to arrive to school punctually. If a pupil arrives on or after 8:45am, then they will receive a late mark. If a pupil arrives after the registers have closed, then they will receive a U code. This will be treated as an unauthorised absence.
Following 10 unauthorised absences, school will issue a fixed penalty notice.
If there continue to be unauthorised absences, school will refer to the Education Welfare Officer. The Education Welfare Officer for Pentrehafod School is Mrs Emma McKenzie.
Pentrehafod School work closely with pupils, families and the EWO service to support you and your child in attending school.
How you can help us:
· Encourage your child to attend school regularly, and punctually.
· Only allow your child to stay home from school when there is a genuine need.
· Phone school on 01792 410400 and choose option 1, to report your child absent.
· Ensure that school have correct contact details for you.
· Be open and honest with us about the reason for your child’s absence, if there is a problem, then we will make every effort to help.
· Provide evidence of appointments held during school time.
· Keep absence requests to a minimum.
Safeguarding
‘Safeguarding is Everyone’s Business’
Schools play an essential role in safeguarding children. At Pentrehafod School we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All staff and (volunteers) are trained, supported and share this commitment. We maintain an environment where children feel confident to speak to staff if they have a worry.
At Pentrehafod School, we:
· Listen to what the child has to say;
· Accept what the child says;
· Let the child know that we are taking what they have said seriously;
· Reassure the child that they are doing the right thing by talking to us;
· Explain to the child what we will do next;
· Assure the child that we will help and support.
We follow key legislation, guidance and procedures to keep all our learners safe.
The Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP) at Pentrehafod School is Ms Bethan Davies. We have 2 Deputy Designated Safeguarding Persons, Mr Matthew Goulding, Acting Headteacher, and Mr Dylan Evans, Assistant Headteacher.
Staff work collaboratively with social services and external agencies, attending meetings and conferences as necessary.
Operation Encompass is a partnership between police and schools. Operation Encompass ensures that school is notified of all incidents of domestic abuse. This information sharing enables us to support our pupils.