School opens at 08.45 and closes at 15.15
The school takes absence and lateness very seriously and has a duty to tackle poor attendance and persistent lateness. Good attendance and being on time are essential to your child’s success at school.
Brede Primary School Attendance Policy
Withdrawal from learning form.
Important Notice: In August 2024, the Department of Education issued new statutory guidance for school attendance. In response, the school’s attendance policy has been updated. A copy is available to view above.
The guidance for requesting a withdrawal from learning, including holidays, has been updated, taking into account national and local procedures. If a request is unauthorised, the Legal Interventions Team at East Sussex County Council will be notified of the absence taken, and a legal intervention may be instigated in the form of a Penalty Notice. If a Penalty Notice is issued, it will be issued to each parent for each child taken out of school. Please note:
- From 19 August 2024, a limit of no more than 2 penalty notices issued to the same parent for the same pupil within a 3-year rolling period will apply.
- The first penalty notice issued to the parent for that pupil will be charged at £160 if paid within 28 days reducing to £80 if paid within 21 days.
- Where it is deemed appropriate to issue a second penalty notice to the same parent for the same pupil within 3 years of the first notice, the second notice is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days.
- A third penalty notice will not be issued within a 3-year period. Therefore, in cases where the threshold is met for a third (or subsequent) time within those 3 years, a penalty notice cannot be issued, and alternative action will be taken instead. This will often include considering prosecution but may also involve other tools such as one of the other attendance legal interventions.
- If you do not pay the penalty notice, legal action will result.
Where withdrawal from learning requests for four days or less is made on more than one occasion during an academic year, this may also be referred to the Legal Interventions Team at East Sussex County Council, resulting in a Penalty Notice being issued. If a Penalty Notice is issued, the same conditions listed above will apply.
Please see our Reporting an Absence page for more information on how to report an absence. The withdrawal from learning request form can be downloaded above or requested from the school office.
Advice and Support
DfE guidance and resources for parents on school attendance
NHS England: Is my child too ill for school?
Support for parents when a child’s behaviour becomes challenging at home:
Young Minds: A guide for parents and carers - challenging behaviour
NHS: Dealing with child behaviour problems
We want all pupils to take full advantage of their education at Brede Primary and to work in partnership with you. If you are having any difficulties with your child’s attendance, please get in touch.
