Attendance

Good attendance is really important

We believe that to be successful, all learners require the highest level of access, attendance and engagement with inclusive, high quality educational settings. We will work with all partners in support of this to achieve our aims and objectives.

The School Aims To

¨ Promote good attendance and good punctuality as the norm.
¨ Demonstrate that good attendance is valued by the school.
¨ Endeavour to provide experiences in and out of the classroom of high quality for all our pupils.
¨ Establish a pattern of monitoring attendance and ensure consistency in recognising achievement and dealing with difficulties.
¨ To raise pupil awareness of the importance of punctuality and regular attendance.
¨ To maintain good communication with parents in relation to their child’s attendance, offering support and guidance where necessary.
¨ To maintain effective working relationships with the Education Social Work Service and other service that promotes good attendance and punctuality.
¨ Recognise and support the key role of all staff in promoting and maintaining good attendance.

When referring to attendance we are referring to children of statutory age. This means children who a 5 and it refers to them the term after their fifth birthday.

It is highly important that children are at school everyday unless …

They are sick
Unexpected / unavoidable causes e.g. Fire/domestic upset/bereavement/severe weather
Religious observances – Up to 3 days a year
Advanced permission of the school for the following reasons – approved public performance, exceptional family reasons, hospital visits, funerals
Dental medical appointments (where this can not be done out of school hours), only authorized for the amount of time needed to attend the appointment.

Handy Tips:

If you child is late, don’t worry, still bring them in. It is better that they only miss a short while rather than a full Day – Better late than never!
If they seem ok, but are saying they aren't well, bring them in and tell a staff member, we can always contact you and send them home if they are too ill to be at school.
Always make doctors, hospital and dental appointment after 9.15, 1.15 or after 3.15 and come in for registration
Always keep in touch with us, either ring and leave a message on our attendance answer phone or text our school mobile on – 07565912806. If you do not contact school, our attendance officer will contact you after 9am to see if your child is safe and well with you and to discuss their absence.

Term Time Absences

Unacceptable reasons for absence include:

Birthdays
Sibling inset/illness etc or parent illness
Car problems
Hair cuts, shoe buying, clothes shopping etc
Not wanting to bring children out in cold weather
Slight temperature
Generally feeling under the weather (with no signs of illness)

All absences count towards your child’s attendance figure, even if it is authorised. Attendance figures are calculated on the days that your child is actually in the building at registration time.

Term Time Holidays

Term time holidays are a hugely contentious issue both locally and Nationally. As expected the school follows the DFE guidance to the letter. these are statutory for all schools.

Guidance links to the DfE for parents

Working together to improve school attendance (applies from 19 August 2024) (publishing.service.gov.uk)

The Governing Body and Headteacher of our school are committed to improving outcomes for all children. Attendance at school and being on time everyday has a huge impact on a child’s learning and helps to ensure personal success.

advice leaflet for parents aug 24 .pdf

Whilst the Governing Body and Headteacher will do everything they can to support families struggling with attendance and lateness it must also be understood that as part of the monitoring procedures, parents and carers will be informed regularly if their child's attendance is of concern and parents may be asked to discuss the reasons for absences and asked to justify them. This is a statutory requirement of the school, not the school intruding on families.

Staff are here to help you and may suggest:

Joining our Breakfast Club offered by Chestnuts childcare (Available daily 8am until 8:45am), with some funding support.
Providing contact details of an external local provider to help with work commitments
Providing contact details of a local child minder to help with work commitments
Referral to School Health where on going illness is a recurring issue
To discuss possible external agencies and the help they can offer
Support with transport (If eligible)

Please speak to the Headteacher in the strictest confidence.

The DfE have produced an Attendance Toolkit: Working together to improve school attendance (publishing.service.gov.uk) to support attendance, as the recognise that every Moment Matters for our children.

Absence During Term-Time (August 2024)

I would like to clarify the school’s position regarding holiday or leave of absence during term time.

Authorising absence is a policy decision. The headteacher has to work within the policy adopted by the Local authority and school. All school absence is a serious matter monitored by the LA, Education Welfare department and Ofsted and all school procedures are checked regularly.

Holidays are NOT permitted in term time. Requesting holidays because it is cheaper to go in term time is not a valid reason, neither are celebrations abroad considered a necessity

Taking holidays in term time mean children quickly fall behind with their work and may require extra support to catch up.

Often families will call in sick instead of being truthful. This means the child will return to school being taught that not telling the truth is ok. It also means they can not share their exciting experience with others. Please do not do this.

A 'pink form', which is known as a Holiday absence form should be collected from the office if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing to take your child out of school in term time. Please be aware that all holidays, unless the circumstance id exceptional will be unauthorised and most will qualify for the penalty notice system (again Statutory Guidance, not the schools).