Attendance

Punctuality

Our school gates are open from 8:40am until 8:55am, and open again at 3:10pm when school finishes.

The register for the first session will be taken at 8:55am and will be kept open by the class teacher until 9:00am. Following this, any late arrivals will be recorded by staff in the office who will record and update any changes on arrival.

Absence

Parents must notify the school on each day of absence by 8:45am or as soon as practically possible.

When phoning school to inform of your child’s absence, please press 1 on the menu unless you need to speak to the office staff. When leaving a message, please clearly state your child’s name, class and the reason for their absence.

If your child has sickness/diarrhoea, they must not attend school for 24 hours after the bout of symptoms.

Medical or Dental Appointments

Missing registration for a medical or dental appointment is counted as an authorised absence if the office has been informed of the appointment in advance.

However, we encourage parents to make medical and dental appointments out of school hours where possible. Where this is not possible, the pupil should be out of school for the minimum amount of time necessary.

We request that an appointment card is shown at the office in advance of the appointment so the class teacher can be informed.

Holidays During Term Time

Taking holidays in term time will affect a child’s schooling as much as any other absence and we expect parents to help us by not taking children away during term time.

If you need to request a holiday during term time, then you will need to complete a Leave of Absence form which can be obtained from the school office.

Although the school will look at each request for leave on its own merit, requests will only be authorised for exceptional circumstances.

When taking your child out of school when a holiday is not authorised/requested, you may face legal action under Section 444 (1) or (1A) of the Education Act 1966 or be issued with a Penalty Notice under Section 23 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

Penalty Notices are issued per parent, per child at £80 each if paid within 21 days and rising to £160 each if paid within 28 days. Failure to pay a Penalty Notice will result in the Local Authority taking legal action against you under Section 444 (1) of the Education Act 1966.

The full version of our attendance policy can be found below. We appreciate your cooperation in supporting your child's attendance and punctuality. Regular school attendance enhances their learning experience and helps them achieve their full potential.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding attendance, please do not hesitate to contact the school office. Together, let's ensure every school day is filled with enriching educational experiences for our children.

How does school attendance affect a Child's learning?

Maximising attendance provides your child with the maximum chances to learn. Punctual arrival gives your child a settled start to the day and means they are fully engaged with routines. Collecting your child punctually gives them a sense of security and will mean that they are settled in school.

We are committed to supporting you to ensure your child is in every lesson. We do not authorise any holidays in term time.

The impact of absence is: