Absence due to self isolation will not be penalised
The DfE has made changes to attendance regulations to add a new category of non-attendance – ‘not attending in circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19)’.
This category must only be used to record sessions that take place in the 2020 to 2021 academic year where a pupil does not attend because their attendance at school would be contrary to guidance relating to the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) from Public Health England (PHE) and/or the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
It can also be used if attendance is prohibited by any legislation (or instruments such as statutory directions) relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19)
The guidance says: "In line with the Secretary of State’s expectation that no parent will be penalised for following official public health advice for their child not to attend a given session, this new category of non-attendance will not count as an absence (authorised or unauthorised) for statistical purposes."
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