Pupil Attendance

Full time Attendance 

Our school attendance policy outlines the importance of all children attending school every day school is open.  It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their child is educated, and once parents choose to discharge this through attendance at school, pupils must attend full time.

In Reception, all children are also expected to attend full time because of the many benefits that full time education provides. Whilst parents have a legal right for their child not to attend full time education until the term they are 5 years old, this can only be done in agreement with the Headteacher and will only be considered in exceptional and extraordinary circumstances.  At our school, we feel the importance of daily attendance is paramount and therefore this would form the basis of any temporary part-time attendance agreement.

School day expectations and illness/absence procedures

It is very important that children come to school every day and arrive at school on time. School gates open at 8.20am and at 8.30am class registers are taken and children arriving after this time will be marked as late.

If your child is absent from school you must notify the main school office of the reason for the absence by 8.20am and confirm the reason for absence by email or letter when your child returns to school. If your child is ill it is important that you call the school on the first day, and each subsequent day, to notify us of the reason for the absence. When your child returns to school please confirm by email or letter the reason for their absence. As a general rule, as recommended by Public Health England, we would expect that a child who has been suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea should be kept at home for 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped. Repeated lateness or absences are followed up by the Local Authority School Liaison Officer (SLO)

For medical or dental appointments we request  these are made outside the school day. If this is not possible however, we request that you email a copy of your appointment confirmation prior to the appointment, your child should then be collected from the main Junior gates. Children will not be released from school during school hours without an advance request notification and the parent/guardian being present.

Holidays are not permitted during term time and absence will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. Any requests must be made in writing giving full details of the reason why the leave is being requested.

Being late adds up to a loss of learning

• If you are 5 minutes late every day that adds up to over 3 days lost each year.
• 15 minutes late is the same as being absent for 2 weeks a year.