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Supporting Your Child’s Attendance at Miltoncross Academy
If you're ever facing challenges that may affect your child's attendance, please don’t hesitate to contact their tutor. We’re here to listen, support, and work together to overcome any barriers that might be impacting their ability to attend school regularly.
Attending school every day is essential for students to achieve their full potential—academically, socially, and emotionally. Consistent attendance helps build strong foundations for GCSE success, confidence, and lifelong learning.
At Miltoncross, we aim for 100% attendance and closely monitor each student’s attendance to ensure they’re getting the best possible experience. The Ofsted expected minimum attendance rate is 96%, and we share that expectation.
Here’s how we respond to different attendance levels:
- 100% attendance – Excellent! No concerns at all.
- 90% to 95% attendance – Acceptable, but there’s room for improvement.
- Below 90% attendance – A serious concern. We will contact parents to offer support and discuss next steps.
If a student’s attendance drops below 95%, we may initiate supportive procedures such as:
- A letter home
- An attendance meeting
- A School Attendance Panel
- A welfare visit from Hampshire Constabulary
- Fast-track to penalty notice (if necessary)
In extreme cases, the school may pursue court action, which can result in a substantial fine or even a prison sentence. We also have a duty to report chronic non-attendance to Portsmouth City Council and Early Help every half term.
Once your child is registered at school, you are legally responsible for ensuring they attend regularly. Failure to do so may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice or further legal action. Beyond the legal implications, irregular attendance can negatively affect your child’s wellbeing, learning progress, friendships, self-esteem, and confidence.
We understand that life can be complicated, and we’re here to help. Please reach out to us if you need support—we’re committed to working with you to ensure your child thrives at Miltoncross.
Reporting An Absence
When your child is absent from school through sickness or for any other reason, please ensure that the school is contacted and made aware of the reason for their absence - It is your responsibility to call the school on each day that your child is unable to attend.
There are several ways in which the school can be informed and contacted:
- By telephoning the school on 02392 738 022 and either:
- Responding to the recorded message asking if you want to leave an absence message by pressing 1, or
- Leaving a message with the receptionist;
- Leaving a message on the school answerphone.
- By emailing the school using: parentabsencereplies@miltoncross-tkat.org
If you receive a letter concerning a recent unauthorised absence, please follow the instructions and provide the school with the information required. On your child’s return to school, please send in a note explaining the reason for absence.
It is crucial that you inform the school as soon as possible whenever your child is absent, whatever the reason. Also, please be reminded that any absence due to illness beyond five days requires medical evidence, for example a hospital appointment card/letter, a prescription or the packaging of the dispensed medication which can be photocopied. If medical evidence is not provided, the absence will remain unauthorised.
Leave of Absence Form
Additionally, we have both a digital and physical copy of our Leave of Absence form.
It is a legal requirement that we have some variation of this form filled in if a child is expected to be absent for a period of time. Whilst there is no notice period, it's important to get the information to us as soon as possible to allow it to be processed before the period of absence occurs. It's not a guarentee that the absence will be approved - the decision will be up to the discretion of the Director of Attendance.
You can either fill in the form linked below, or collect a physical copy from Reception.
Please keep in mind, this form is not for short-term absences. Please only use this form for long-term / planned absences.
Authorised Absences
Only the school in conjunction with the parent may legally authorise an absence. Wherever possible, the school should be notified in advance by letter or telephone call. Acceptable reasons for authorising an absence are as follows:
Illness
- emergency medical/dental appointment (routine appointments should be booked after school or during school holidays and unless for a specific notified reason should not mean your child is absent for the whole day)
- arriving late during registration
- religious observances
- bereavements (close family members)
- exclusion from school
Unauthorised Absences
The following are not considered acceptable reasons for absence:
- holidays taken during term time
- Truancy
- shopping during school hours
- personal appointments such as hairdressers
- Birthdays
- taking deliveries
- minding the house or looking after brothers and sisters (except during exceptional emergency circumstances)
- no letter of explanation from parents
- arriving late to school during lesson times
Exceptional Circumstances
Holidays are NEVER routinely authorised however you may have exceptional circumstances that need to be considered. If this is the case a letter, addressed to the Headteacher is required. Each case is considered individually. A Leave of Absence form must be collected from reception, completed and submitted, in advance, for all planned absences.
If your child cannot attend school on a particular day, please contact the school that morning to let us know why and each consecutive day until your child returns.
The absence direct line telephone number is:
02392 738022 (choose option 1 and leave a message).
The Attendance email address is:
parentabsencereplies@miltoncross-tkat.org
Booking Summer Holidays
Attending school is really important for children and young people's educational progress and their wellbeing. It is important that they attend school every day.
Permission for leave during term time can only be given by the Headteacher and parents can be fined for taking their children on holiday during term-term without the school's permission. A request for leave during term time may be made in writing to the Headteacher. To be able to grant leave, the Headteacher must receive the request for leave in advance and be satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.
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