The Radyr Primary Cluster Attendance Framework has its basis in Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). We believe that all young people have the right to an education, based on equality of opportunity, and that the school, in partnership with parents and carers, and other parties, must take measures to encourage regular school attendance and reduce rates of absenteeism. The Radyr Primary Cluster Attendance Framework is written to ensure compliance with statutory requirements.

The law states that:

• Parents and guardians are required under section 7 of the Education Act 1996 to ensure that their child receives effective full-time education between the ages of five and sixteen;
• The local authority is required under section 437 of the Education Act 1996 to ensure that a child for whom they are responsible is receiving suitable education by regular attendance at school or otherwise;
• The school is required under The Education (Pupil Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2010 to take attendance registers twice a day - at the start of the morning session and once during the afternoon session.

Non-attendance is an important issue that is treated seriously. Every case is different and we will always try to support families to improve the situation. However, it must be understood that a parent/carer who fails to send their child to school regularly faces fines of up to £2,500 or even a prison sentence. Cardiff Council regularly prosecutes parents who fail to ensure their child’s regular attendance at school.

The Radyr Primary Cluster Attendance policy is designed to help teachers, parents/carers and pupils understand their rights, responsibilities and roles when it comes to school attendance. By working in partnership, it is our hope that every pupil achieves over 95% attendance, whilst our expectation is that our pupils will be in school 100% of the time.

Holidays in Term Time

The Education (Pupil Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2010 give schools discretionary power to grant leave for the purpose of a family holiday during term time. Parents do not have an automatic right to withdraw their child from school for a holiday and, by law, have to apply for permission from the school in advance.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, schools within the Radyr Primary Cluster will authorise one family holiday of up to five days.  This authorisation is subject however, to the child’s attendance over the previous 12 months hitting the minimum threshold of 95% below which, a fixed penalty notice for a holiday may be issued.